Mississippi

STAR

Vocabulary Lessons
Evidence-based Lessons for Vocabulary Instruction
Compiled by: Cindy Heimbach
Lessons from: Priscilla Burns, Cindy Heimbach, &
Jonathan Moore
 Contents

Notes to Instructors ......................................................................... 4

How to Use the Lesson Plans ........................................................... 5
Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary (Third Edition)
Unit 1 Lessons Begin ........................................................................ 9
Chapter 1 Lesson ............................................................................ 9
Chapter 2 Lesson ............................................................................. 20
Chapter 3 Lesson ............................................................................. 31
Chapter 4 Lesson ............................................................................. 38
Review Lesson Chapters 1-4 ............................................................ 45
Chapter 5 Lesson ............................................................................. 53
Unit 2 Lessons Begin ........................................................................ 60
Chapter 6 Lesson ............................................................................. 60
Chapter 7 Lesson ............................................................................. 67
Chapter 8 Lesson ............................................................................. 74
Chapter 9 Lesson ............................................................................. 80
Review Lesson Chapters 6-9 ............................................................ 86
Chapter 10 Lesson ........................................................................... 95
Unit 3 Lessons Begin ........................................................................ 102
Chapter 11 Lesson ........................................................................... 102
Chapter 12 Lesson ........................................................................... 110
Chapter 13 Lesson (1) ...................................................................... 119
Chapter 13 Lesson (2) ...................................................................... 126
Chapter 14 Lesson ........................................................................... 132
Chapter 15 Lesson ........................................................................... 139

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Unit 4 Lessons Begin ........................................................................ 146
Chapter 16 Lesson ........................................................................... 146
Chapter 17 Lesson ........................................................................... 153
Chapter 18 Lesson ........................................................................... 160
Chapter 19 Lesson ........................................................................... 170
Chapter 20 Lesson ........................................................................... 177
Unit 5 Lessons Begin ........................................................................ 184
Chapter 21 Lesson ........................................................................... 184
Chapter 22 Lesson ........................................................................... 191
Chapter 23 Lesson ........................................................................... 198
Chapter 24 Lesson ........................................................................... 204
Chapter 25 Lesson ........................................................................... 210
Unit 6 Lessons.................................................................................. 217
Chapter 26 Lesson ........................................................................... 217
Chapter 27 Lesson ........................................................................... 223
Chapter 28 Lesson ........................................................................... 229
Chapter 29 Lesson ........................................................................... 236
Chapter 30 Lesson ........................................................................... 242
Building Vocabulary Skills (Third Edition)
Unit 1 Lessons Begin ........................................................................ 248
Chapter 1 Lesson ............................................................................. 248
Chapter 2 Lesson ............................................................................. 260
Chapter 3 Lesson ............................................................................. 272
Chapter 4 Lesson ............................................................................. 280
Chapter 5 Lesson ............................................................................. 288

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 Evidence-based Vocabulary Instruction
STudent Achievement in Reading
Mississippi STAR Project 2011
Notes to the Instructor
Mississippi began the STudent Achievement in Reading (STAR) project
(evidence-based reading reform initiative) in August 2007 with an Office of
Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) Rural Grant submission. The grant
was awarded in part to the State of Mississippi’s Adult Basic Education
(ABE) program. The part awarded to the state was in the area of teaching
reading to intermediate ABE students using the STAR project. STAR is a
reading reform initiative that includes an online “Tool Kit” (tools and
resources) and the companion professional development package. The
pilot and grant project were so successful that the state decided to sustain
this project by having four individuals become nationally certified state
trainers. After national training, the trainers began training throughout the
state. ABE programs were selected to participate in the STAR training
package. Individuals who participate attend three, two-day institutes
covering: the Overview, Planning, Assessment, Instruction in Fluency,
Alphabetics, Vocabulary, and Comprehension, and Next Step Action Plans.
The online Tool Kit is only available to those individuals who participate in
the STAR program training. The director of an ABE program attends along
with the instructors. After the Institutes, the ABE program implements
evidence-based reading instruction into their classes with intermediate
level students. Mississippi STAR Trainers provide technical assistance to the
participating ABE programs which includes emails, phone calls, and site
visits. Follow-up training is provided at the Mississippi ABE Full-Time
Teachers Conference and regional trainings. During these trainings
instructors requested lesson plans from trainers who have been
implementing STAR for the past three years. This book is a compilation of
those lesson plans. Some of the lesson plans were done at the beginning of
the instructors’ implementation process. It is felt by those instructors that
the later lesson plans are better than those written at the beginning of the
implementation process. These instructors feel they are always in the
learning process. They take the lessons and adapt them for their current
group of students based on their diagnostic testing. Please adapt the lesson
plans to meet the needs of the students in your classroom. Some of the

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reading passages will not be appropriate for your students because they
are at a different instructional grade level than those students for which
these lessons were designed.

How to Use the Lesson Plans: Evidence-based Reading

Instruction (EBRI)
Evidence-based Vocabulary Instruction

When teaching adult learners at the intermediate reading levels (SL3 &
SL4), we must think about what vocabulary words to use for instruction.
Using word tiers is a framework for thinking about the breadth of a
learner’s vocabulary. Tier 1 words are basic words, Tier 3 words are subject
area content words (Ex. science vocabulary), and Tier 2 words are more
abstract. For intermediate reading levels, Tier 2 words should be taught to
the student. These words occur frequently in written language across a
variety of academic areas. There are lists of Tier 2 words on the internet.
The lessons in this book use the following resources which have Tier 2
words: Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary and Improving Vocabulary Skills
from Townsend Press. These books can be found on the website
www.townsendpress.com.

To use the lesson plans in this book you need a brief explanation of EBRI
vocabulary strategies. These lesson plans are based on the assumption that
you will use explicit instruction in the reading lesson. Explicit instruction
contains four parts.

Explanation: The instructor explains the purpose of the instruction and

describes the key concepts or procedures.
Modeling: The instructor demonstrates the procedures. The student
watches as the teacher models.
Guided Practice: The students practice using the new concepts or
procedures while the instructor gives them feedback, support, and
assistance. You may have several guided practice activities.
Application & Monitoring: The students use the new concepts or
procedures on their own. The instructor monitors their success. The goal is
for the student to carry out the task independently at their instructional
level.

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The following lesson plans use this type of instruction. Fill-in-the-Blank or
Read & Respond activities are not just paperwork or busy work. They are
guided practice and application activities. The instructor should have the
students tell why they used a certain word in the Fill-in-the-Blank. There
should be a rich discussion when answering the Read & Respond questions
with students using the vocabulary words. Students should be actively
engaged in the instruction. You must provide numerous practice
opportunities. If your students need more practice opportunities than
these lessons provide, you will need to design your own activities to meet
the students’ needs. You as the instructor will need a way to monitor the
effectiveness of your instruction and give time to the student to reflect on
the usefulness of what they are learning. If the student sees no usefulness
of the vocabulary, then you will see no progress in the area of reading for
your student.
The following are the steps to Vocabulary Instruction:
Step 1: Use direct instruction to introduce the word meanings. Do not ask
the students if they know what a word means. Use a simple word meaning,
and use only one meaning. These steps “look like” the following:
 Write the word and its meaning on the board.
 Tell the students the meaning.
 Give an example using the word in context. (This is indicated in some
of the lessons in yellow highlight. This needs to be your own
experience or example to use the word in context.)
 Ask the students to use the words in their own context by giving
them a prompt or question.
Example of Step 1
Explanation: Explain to the students why they need to know the words and
the process that you will be going through as they learn. Tell them what
they will be expected to do in the class time.

Modeling: Write challenge and its meaning on the board. Tell the students
its meaning. Say to the students, “For me cooking different kinds of food is
a challenge. I usually cook the same thing every week. I want to cook
different things but it takes special effort for me to think of different things.
I don’t have a lot of time so I find it a challenge to do anything different.”
Then give the prompt and have each student in the class answer the
prompt question. This allows the student the opportunity to practice using

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the vocabulary word in context. Encourage the student to use the
vocabulary word as they answer the question. (The whole point is to give
the students the opportunity to use the word and move toward using it in
their own vocabulary. In that way they will understand its meaning, and
when it appears in written material, they will understand what they are
reading which will build reading comprehension.) Ask the students, “What
do you find to be a challenge in your life?” Remember to have each student
answer the question aloud. In some of the lesson plans, you will see a
quadrant chart. If you wish you can have your students make a quadrant
chart on an index card. Put the word, its meaning, an example that helps
them remember the meaning of the word, synonyms and antonyms, or
anything you feel will help the student as they are working with this word.

Step 2: Guiding the student in understanding and applying through

discussion activities is step 2. In the lesson plans, you will see Fill-in-the-
Blank, Sentence Completion, Read & Respond, Yes/No/Why, and Who
Needs to Know this Word activities. Remember to allow the student time
to do the activity with a partner and then alone. Then to have a discussion
allowing the student to tell you why they used a word in a blank or why
they answered the question the way they did. Always have them use the
word during the discussions.

Step 3: Provide students with independent opportunities to use what they

have learned. Activities that allow the students to write using their
vocabulary words will allow them to work independently and allow the
instructor to monitor the progress of the student.

You will notice that the activities stay relatively the same while the words
change. Students become comfortable with the activities and the
procedures used in the lessons. This allows the student to learn the words
without being distracted by learning the procedures of new activities.

Always use reading materials at the student’s instructional reading level.

As an idea of how to create a reading class schedule, one of the pilot sites
used the following schedule. Morning classes at the Grenada Adult
Education Center meet Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until
noon. These lessons were designed for the morning reading class. The
reading class is approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. The vocabulary
lesson takes about 30 minutes per day. The instructors introduce 5 words

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each week and provide opportunities to use the words in context. An
average week might look like the following:
Monday – Introduce 5 words. Step 1. See above for explanation.
Tuesday – Guided Practice – Fill-in-the-Blank and Sentence Completion
activities.
Wednesday – Guided Practice/Application – Read & Respond
Thursday – Application – Yes/No/Why Questions and Who Needs to Know
This Word activities.
In the night classes which meet twice a week, these lessons would take two
weeks to complete.
Recommendations:
1. Have a copy or several copies of the Townsend Vocabulary book.
(Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary or Improving Vocabulary Skills)
Some of the lesson plans will refer to an activity in the book. There is
also an Instructor’s Manual and Test Bank that is helpful for testing.
2. Do not use the book as your lesson. EBRI is based on direct and
explicit instruction.
3. Have classroom copies for each student of the books you will use for
the Read & Respond activities. Those mentioned in these lessons
are:
Jamestown’s Timed Readings (Timed Readings, Timed
Readings Plus, Timed Readings Plus in Science, and Timed
Readings Plus in Social Studies) and Six-Way Paragraphs
Middle Level and Six-Way Paragraphs in the Content Areas
Introductory Level books. Each of these series has reading
levels from 4th to 8th grade. Purchase and use the grade level
of your students’ instructional level for reading. These books
can be purchased from McGraw-Hill/Contemporary.
4. Your Local ABE Trainer has videos that demonstrate how to conduct
a vocabulary lesson.

The following lesson plans are from the resource Groundwork For a Better
Vocabulary and Building Vocabulary Skills.
Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary has lessons for each chapter in the
book.
Building Vocabulary Skills has only the first 5 lessons. We have had only a
few students at this level. You can see how the lessons would be
developed in the same way.

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 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 1 Chapter 1
(There are two lessons in each segment for a total of 10 words)

Challenge – a test of one’s abilities; anything that calls for a

special effort
For me cooking different kinds of food is a challenge. I usually
cook the same thing every week. I want to cook different things
but it takes special effort for me to think of different things. I
don’t have a lot of time so I find it a challenge to do anything
different.
What do you find to be a challenge in your life?

Dependent – relying on others for aid or support

My children are dependent on me. They need me to teach them
the right way to live and to provide a home, food, love, and
money for things in this world. They are too young to do this on
their own so they are dependent on their parents.
Who is a person you feel is dependent upon you in some way?
Why do you think that person relies on you?

Fertile – producing or able to produce much fruit, large crops, or

many children
My father has land that is fertile. I have seen many different
things grow on his land. Different crops. Now trees are growing
on the land. He always does well with his crops because the land
is very fertile.
Where have you seen fertile ground?

Peculiar – odd; strange

Something peculiar happened to me at the airport. Tell the story
about being put on a different airplane.
Describe something that you do, or that someone you know does,
which might seem peculiar to other people.
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Preference – a choice; first choice; something preferred
When I have a day off my preference is to read a book. I really
like that. If I can choose what to do, that is my preference.
When choosing where to go on vacation, what is your preference?

Activity 1: Fill-in-the-Blanks: Use after explicit teaching

Although Al’s ______________________ is for a daytime job, he

will work at night if necessary.

My basic math course was easy, but I find algebra to be a

___________________.

Our land is __________________. We have many crops growing

on it.

I smell a ________________ odor in the office.

A boy who is too ______________________ on his friends won’t

make any decisions without them.

Activity 2

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
Keep it Soaring p.15– Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

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Fill-in-the-Blanks:

Although Al’s ______________________ is for a daytime job, he

will work at night if necessary.

My basic math course was easy, but I find algebra to be a

___________________.

Our land is __________________. We have many crops growing

on it.

I smell a ________________ odor in the office.

A boy who is too ______________________ on his friends won’t

make any decisions without them.
_____________________________________________________

Read and Respond: Keep it Soaring

1. What is a peculiar way kites have been used?

2. What kind of kites were dependent on people being in them?

3. When did the different shapes for kites begin to be a

preference?

4. Tell about the way kites helped in a challenging science

discovery.
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Quadrant Charts
Vocabulary Word Meaning

Challenge a test of one’s abilities; anything

that calls for a special effort
Examples Opposites

Hard to do easy
Math
reading

Vocabulary Word Meaning

Dependent relying on others for aid or

support
Examples Opposites

Children Independent
Elderly Self supporting
needy

Vocabulary Word Meaning

fertile producing or able to produce

much fruit, large crops, or many
children
Examples Opposites

Large crops Infertile

Family with many children barren
Rich

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 productive

Vocabulary Word Meaning

peculiar odd; strange

Examples Opposites

Not normal Normal

Weird ordinary
unusual

Vocabulary Word Meaning

preference a choice; first choice; something

preferred
Examples Opposites

Favorite thing indifference

Like something

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Unit 1 Chapter 1 Groundwork For a Better Vocabulary
Principal – most important; main; leading
The principal thing for this class is to teach you ways to
understand what you read so you can pass your GED exam. The
principal cause of most success is hard work, not luck or talent.
If you are going to get your GED what will need to be the principal
goal for you?

Solitary– happening or done alone

My favorite solitary activity is to read a book. Sometimes I like to
be in the company of people but sometimes I need to spend the
evening in solitary activities.
When do you like to be involved in a solitary activity?

Surplus– extra; more than what is used or needed

The library gets new books every year so they begin to get a
surplus of books. They give their surplus of books to us for our
school library?
Other than money, what would you like to have a surplus of?

transform – to change in form or appearance

My back patio is kind of messy. I want to transform it into an
attractive place like the patios you see on TV. It takes work to
transform anything into something beautiful.
What would you like to transform?

suitable – right for a certain purpose; proper; fitting

I want my daughters to look for suitable boys to date. I want
them to look for good Christian boys who love God. I think that is
a suitable choice for my girls.
What would be a suitable job for you?

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Quadrant Charts
Vocabulary Word Meaning

principal most important; main; leading

Examples Opposites

Major thing unimportant

Thing you must do

Vocabulary Word Meaning

solitary happening or done alone

Examples Opposites

Lonely sociable
private

Vocabulary Word Meaning

surplus extra; more than what is used

or needed
Examples Opposites

additional Essential
too much enough
leftover

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 Vocabulary Word Meaning

transform to change in form or

appearance
Examples Opposites

Make over Leave alone

renovate Keep the same

Vocabulary Word Meaning

suitable right for a certain purpose;

proper; fitting
Examples Opposites

appropriate inappropriate
what is good and right

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Activities:
Fill-in-the-Blank:
1. My neighbors are looking for __________________ homes
for their six puppies.
2. Someone who likes ________________________ work
would probably like a job working alone in an office.
3. Learning to read can __________________ a person’s life.
4. What’s the _____________________ reason for wanting to
get your GED?
5. Many restaurants are donating their _________________
food to homeless people.

Yes/No/ Why: These questions have no right or wrong answer.

Student must tell why they answer yes or no.

Can challenges transform you?

Is it suitable to be dependent on others?
Are solitary activities peculiar?
Are preferences the principal things in life?
Does fertile ground produce a surplus?

Read and Respond: Timed Reading Book 3, p. 17: A Body Without

a Head: grade 6 instruction
See questions on handout

17
Fill in the Blank:

1. My neighbors are looking for __________________ homes

for their six puppies.

2. Someone who likes ________________________ work

would probably like a job working alone in an office.

3. Learning to read can __________________ a person’s life.

4. What’s the _____________________ reason for wanting to

get your GED?

5. Many restaurants are donating their _________________

food to homeless people.

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Read and Respond: A Body Without a Head P. 17

1. What was the principal reason for having the plan called
the Articles of Confederation?

2. Was the Articles of Confederation a suitable plan for the

government? Why or Why not?

3. Why might it not be good for a state to remain solitary at

this time?

4. Would you say that the Congress at this time had a surplus
of power or not?

5. Why might it be difficult for Congress to transform trade

between certain states?

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 Groundwork For a Better Vocabulary
Unit 1 Chapter 2
analyze – to examine carefully; study closely
When I am learning something new, I like to analyze it. It is
almost like I have to take it apart and put it back together. I study
it to make sure I am getting it.
What are things you analyze?

attitude– a point of view; state of mind; way of thinking or

feeling
I try to have a good attitude when I am learning something new.
It is hard to do. It is so easy to have a bad attitude. If I want to
learn the new concept, I must keep my attitude good.
What do you want to have a good attitude about?

category– a group of people or things having something in

common; type
The category of music that I like is Celtic. I don’t know why I like
that category of music. I just do. I also like that category of books.
I like anything to do with Scotland.
What is your favorite category of reading material?

contrast– an obvious difference

My daughters are very different. If you are around them, you will
see the contrast. One is very talkative and one is quiet. One likes
to be at the center of things and the other likes to be in the
background.
Is there a contrast between the faults you focus on in someone
else and those you see in yourself?

critical – disapproving; tending to find fault

I try not to be critical when my daughters clean their room, but
they don’t do a very good job. So sometimes they think when I
try to give them advice that I am being critical.
What are you most critical about in other people?
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Activity 1: Fill in the blanks: Use after explicit teaching

Athletes need to have a positive _______________________.

Some people like jazz and rock music, but others don’t like that
__________________ of music.
We must carefully __________________ the city’s money
problems.
There is a big _______________ in Washington DC and Grenada,
MS.
My aunt is __________________ of her neighbors.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
Weighing In – Timed Reading book Three p. 19
See handout for questions.

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Fill in the blanks:

Athletes need to have a positive _______________________.

Some people like jazz and rock music, but others don’t like that
__________________ of music.

We must carefully __________________ the city’s money

problems.

There is a big _______________ in Washington DC and Grenada,

MS.

My aunt is __________________ of her neighbors.

______________________________________________________
Read and Respond: Weighing In (p. 19)

1. What foods are in the category that contains large amounts

of water?

2. Why should you be critical of crash diets?

3. What should you analyze before going on a diet?

4. What happens when you have the attitude that eating

between meals is ok?

22
Vocabulary Word Meaning

analyze to examine carefully; study

closely
Examples Opposites

Look at closely Not interested

question

Vocabulary Word Meaning

attitude a point of view; state of mind;

way of thinking or feeling
Examples Opposites

Way of behaving
Feelings
thoughts

Vocabulary Word Meaning

category a group of people or things

having something in common;
type
Examples Opposites

Group
kind

23
Vocabulary Word Meaning

contrast an obvious difference

Examples Opposites

differences similar

Vocabulary Word Meaning

critical disapproving; tending to find

fault
Examples Opposites

Judgmental favorable
Fault finding
Nit-picking

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Unit 1 Chapter 2 Groundwork For a Better Vocabulary
deliberate – done on purpose; carefully planned
There are some things that I do that are deliberate. Sometimes
when people ask me a question, I will answer with a question. I
actually mean to do that. I think it is the teacher in me. I want
people to discover things for themselves. I am deliberate in
helping people learn. I don’t just tell them the answer.
What is something that you do that is deliberate?

excessive– too much; more than is reasonable

My love of books is excessive. I can’t walk by a bookstore in the
mall. I have to go in and I must buy a book. I have so many books
that I have filled all the bookshelves, baskets, and boxes around
my room. They are under my bed also.
What causes you excessive stress?

fragile– easily broken or damaged

I have some angels at my house that are fragile. One has a broken
wing because she was bumped. I have to be careful when I dust
the furniture because I don’t want to break them.
What do you have that is fragile?

frustration – a feeling of anger and helplessness that comes from

bad luck, defeat, or failure; disappointment
I have a problem. When people ask me to do something, I have
trouble saying no. This causes frustration in my life because I
don’t have enough time to do all the things I need to.
What causes frustration in your life?

25
indicate – to show; serve as a sign or signal
My daughter loves to make cookies and sweets. She makes them
for me. It is a way for her to indicate her love for me. She wants
to do things for me. She also likes to make me cards and decorate
them. These are ways she indicates that she cares for me.
What do your hobbies or activities indicate about your
personality?

Vocabulary Word Meaning

deliberate done on purpose; carefully

planned
Examples Opposites

On purpose accidental

Vocabulary Word Meaning

excessive too much; more than is

reasonable
Examples Opposites

More than you need moderate

Vocabulary Word Meaning

fragile easily broken or damaged

26
 Examples Opposites

Breakable sturdy
delicate

Vocabulary Word Meaning

frustration a feeling of anger and

helplessness that comes from
bad luck, defeat, or failure;
disappointment
Examples Opposites

Irritated satisfaction
annoyed

Vocabulary Word Meaning

indicate to show; serve as a sign or

signal
Examples Opposites

Point to or point out

show

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Activities:
Fill in the blank:

1. The vase was ________________________.

2. It was a ______________________ dirty trick.
3. Elaine felt great ________________________ when she
failed her driving test for the third time.
4. _______________________ speed caused the accident.
5. Jeff’s frown seemed to ____________________ that he was
unhappy with our plan.

Yes/No/ Why:

Are you deliberate when you analyze something?

Do you take excessive care with fragile things?
If a person is critical do they have a bad attitude?
Do challenges always cause frustration?

Who needs to know this word?

Analyze – A doctor needs to know this word because they have to
analyze blood under a microscope.
Category – A librarian needs to know this word because she has to
place books in their category on the shelves.
Etc.

Read and Respond: Timed Reading Book 3 p. 21: The Pathfinder:

grade 6 instruction
See questions on handout

28
Fill in the blank:

1. The vase was ________________________.

2. It was a ______________________ dirty trick.

3. Elaine felt great ________________________ when she

failed her driving test for the third time.

4. _______________________ speed caused the accident.

5. Jeff’s frown seemed to ____________________ that he was

unhappy with our plan.

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Read and Respond: The Pathfinder (p. 21)

1. What are things that a person must analyze if they are to find their
way in the woods?

2. What can happen if frustration overtakes a man because of poor

woodsmanship?

3. At the beginning of the story what in the reading indicates that the
man was in a fragile condition?

4. What indicates that the man had excessive fear?

5. What is the contrast between a man that finds himself lost and one
who is a good woodsman?

30
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 1 Chapter 3
accompany – to go along with; be together with
We went on a trip to Disney World and our family asked one of
our daughter’s friends to accompany us. Actually, she asked to
accompany us. She has always been with us when we go to
Disney World. I like to have ketchup to accompany my French
fries.
When do you like to have someone accompany you? Where?

desperate– having a great need or desire

After the Hurricane Katrina, many people were desperate for
food, water, and a place to live. When you are desperate for
something, you will do things you would not normally do.
Can you tell about a time you were desperate?

determine– to find out exactly; figure out

When we gave you the reading test, we were trying to determine
what you needed to help you with your reading skills. We wanted
to find out exactly what you were having trouble with.
What takes you the most time to determine?

dispose– to throw or give away; get rid of

My husband loves to read the newspaper. But he never throws
them away. At the end of the week, I have to dispose of them. I
think we should recycle them because there are so many but it is
easier to dispose of them.
What do you wish you could dispose of but can’t because it
belongs to someone else?

31
evident – obvious, clear
My little dog loves me the most in our family. It is evident that
she does because she sits in my lap. When she wants something
she comes to me. When I am gone for a few days, she jumps into
my arms and wants my attention. So it is evident that I am the
most loved in the family.
What are evident things you need to be studying to pass your
GED?

Activity 1: Fill in the blanks: Use after explicit teaching

1. It was ___________ who had broken the fragile vase.

2. You can ____________ the answer with the help of a
calculator.
3. You must shred old files to _______________ of them.
4. When I sing, she will ________________ me on the piano.
5. She was so _______________ for a prom date that she
asked her cousin to take her.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
A Cord of Wood – page 25 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

32
Fill in the blanks:

1. It was ___________ who had broken the fragile vase.

2. You can ____________ the answer with the help of a
calculator.
3. You must shred old files to _______________ of them.
4. While I sing, she will ________________ me on the piano.
5. She was so _______________ for a prom date that she
asked her cousin to take her.
__________________________________________________
Read and Respond: A Cord of Wood (p. 25)

1. If you are desperate for a cheaper heating system, what

might be a good choice for your home?

2. What are the evident benefits of using firewood to heat a

home?

3. How can you dispose of the ashes produced by burning

wood?

4. Contrast using firewood and coal, oil, or gas.

5. Why would someone’s preference be to use firewood

instead of some other fuel to heat their home?

33
Unit 1 Chapter 3 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
improper – not in good taste; not right for a situation; not
suitable
When I choose a movie for my family to watch, I try to find out
about the movie by reading reviews and checking the movie
rating. I don’t want my children watching something improper.
What is something that you think would be improper to wear to
an interview?

Preserve – to protect; keep in good condition

One day I hope my daughters will want to wear my wedding dress
when they get married. I want my dress to be in good condition
for that day, so to preserve it, I keep it in a thick plastic bag in a
safe place.
What do you hope to preserve throughout your life?

pursue– to try to get or succeed in ; seek

I have been thinking about trying to pursue another degree. But
now that my kids are getting close to going to college this will be
hard for me.
What is one goal in life that is important for you to pursue?

rejection – a saying “no” to a request or desire; refusal

When I applied to the University of Alabama, I thought I would
have no problem getting accepted. But my GRE and MAT scores
were not high enough so I was very frustrated when I received a
rejection letter. It was very disappointing. I had to go to an
interview and convince them to accept me into the university.
How do you deal with rejection?

Restore – to bring back to a normal or former condition; repair

I have some furniture that belonged to my grandmother. It took time to
restore it so that it would be beautiful again, but now I am proud of the
furniture. It is in my home and I enjoy it.
What would you like to restore?

34
Activities:
Fill in the blank:

1. It is _________________ to wear a bathing suit to church.

2. He got a _______________________from the girl when he
asked her to accompany him to the prom.
3. Jason wants to _______________ a career in social work.
4. It is hard to _______________ trust.
5. We need to ________________ our rights in America.

Yes/No/ Why:

Are you desperate when you face rejection?

Are improper things evident?

Who needs to know this word?

dispose – A doctor needs to know this word because they have to
dispose of blood and nettles properly.
rejection– A credit card company needs to know this word
because they have to send acceptance or rejection letters for
credit cards.
Etc.

Read and Respond: Timed Reading Book 3 : Look Around You –

page 29: grade 6 instruction
See questions on handout

Questions to ask after collaborative oral reading. After discussing

the story.
Day One:
Is the reason the father left evident?
Is there a character in the book that seems desperate? Why?

35
Day Two:
What do you determine to be the main idea of this story?
Is there a character in the story that feels rejection? Who? Why?

Day Three & Four:

Was there anything in the reading you thought was improper?
Why?
Tell your partner about what you read using one or two of the
vocabulary words for this week.

36
Fill in the blank:

1. It is _________________ to wear a bathing suit to church.

2. He got a _______________________from the girl when he

asked her to accompany him to the prom.

3. Jason wants to _______________ a career in social work.

4. It is hard to _______________ trust.

5. We need to ________________ our rights in America.

Read and Respond: Look Around You (p. 29)

1. Why should we preserve our environment?

2. What can we do to restore the environment?

3. Why would it be improper to cut down an entire forest?

4. How should we dispose of our waste?

5. Give your opinion about the article using one of our

vocabulary words from any week so far.

37
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 1 Chapter 4
abundant- great; very plentiful; more than enough
If I could make one thing on Earth more abundant, I would try to
make sure everyone had an abundant supply of food to eat.
If you could make one thing on Earth more abundant, what would
it be, and why.

betray- to turn against; to be disloyal

I try never to betray a trust. If someone comes to me and tells me
something that they want to be kept a secret, I try never to betray
that by telling anyone. But if someone tells me that they are
thinking about suicide or they are being hurt or harmed, then I
feel that I have to betray their trust by getting them the help they
need.
How do you feel when someone tries to betray your friendship?

comparison-the act of checking or judging how two or more

things are alike or different.
Before I purchase a major price item, I like to make a comparison
between two similarly priced items. I check to see if the features
are comparable and to see which one is really a better buy.
What do you look for when you make a comparison shopping
decision?

demonstrate- to show; to explain or teach by showing

I am a visual learner. When trying to learn how to work an
unfamiliar math problem, I prefer to have the instructor
demonstrate the steps to solving the problem on the board.
What is something you know how to do well that you could
demonstrate for others?

38
dispute- disagreement; an argument; a quarrel
My teenage daughters have a dispute about everything. It does
not matter what they are talking about; it will be a dispute. If one
says the moon is shining, the other will dispute it. Then a major
dispute begins.
When was the last time you had a dispute with someone? Were
you able to resolve the dispute quickly?

Activity 1: Fill in the blanks: Use after explicit teaching

1. It takes her a long time to shop because she likes to make

a(n) __________ between the different brands.

2. My neighbor will ________________ the proper way to

decorate a cake at the food tasting booth.

3. After fertilizing the garden, the farmer had a(n)

______________ crop of corn.

4. The two brothers will often ____________ about who

should drive the car.

5. If my sister breaks the law, I will have to ______________

her trust and report her to the police.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
A Sticky Wicket– page 27 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

39
Read and Respond: A Sticky Wicket (p. 27)

1. In reading the passage, one can not dispute over when a

batter is out. According to the passage, when is a batter
out?

2. A comparison was made in the passage between which

three British sports? Compare and contrast these three
sports.

3. How might the captain of one team betray the captain of the
other team?

4. There is an abundant amount of outs allowed per cricket

match. How many outs determine when the opposing team
is able to bat?

5. How do rugby players demonstrate their love of the game?

40
Unit 1 Chapter 4 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
distinct- definite; clear; obvious; easy to see or notice
When I write on the dry erase board, I try to make sure my words
appear distinct. I don’t want anyone to have a difficult time
reading my writing, so I tend to write really big .
What is something that is distinct about you?

exaggerate- to overstate; to say that something is larger or

greater than it really is
When I tell a story that happened to me, I tend to exaggerate a
few points to make the story lively and funny. I like to see people
laugh so sometimes I exaggerate with hand movements and
demonstrate what happened in the story. I try not to lie but just
to exaggerate to make the story fun to listen to.
In your opinion, why do people tend to exaggerate the truth?

inhabit- to live in
I would not like to inhabit a cave. I don’t like to camp out. I really
like to inhabit a place that has conveniences.
If human beings were able to inhabit another planet, do you think
they should? Why or Why not?

neutral- not taking sides

My mother and husband love to discuss politics. My mother is a
democrat and my husband is a republican. Ohh, my goodness
they love to discuss and tease on another. My father and I stay
neutral and don’t let anyone drag us in to their side of the debate.
Do you think it is important to remain neutral when family
members or friends are having a dispute? If so, why?

41
reduction- cut; a decrease; cutback
Every year here at the adult education center, I have to write a
grant to keep the program going. If we don’t meet our goals
there is a reduction in the money given to us to keep the program
going. If there is a reduction in money then there has to be a
reduction in staff or in materials.
When would you consider taking a reduction in pay?
Activities:
Fill in the blank:

1. When the company decided to have a ____________________ in its

workforce, a number of workers were laid off.

2. Microwave popcorn has a very ________________ odor when it is

being popped.

3. They often _____________________ about the size of fish they

catch.

4. Many people ____________________ the country of China and as a

result it has the world’s largest population.

5. I don’t want to be caught up in their argument, so I will remain

________________on the issue.

Yes/No/ Why:

When do you feel it is a suitable time to betray a friendship?

What is a peculiar way people exaggerate their frustration?
If you had a preference, what would be something you would like to
demonstrate for the class?

42
Who needs to know this word?

Dispute – A judge needs to know this word because he or she has to

resolve disputes between the plaintiff and the defendant.

Demonstrate- Infomercial actors need to know this word because they

have to demonstrate the products they are trying to sell.

Etc.

Read and Respond: Timed Reading Book 3: Look Think About It – page 31:
grade 6 instruction
See questions on handout

Questions to ask after collaborative oral reading. After discussing the

story.
Day One:
* Does the author exaggerate the description of a character or setting?

Day Two:
* What distinct ways are used to describe the family?

Day Three & Four:

*Was there anything in the reading you want to dispute?

Tell your partner about what you read using one or two of the vocabulary
words for this week.

43
Read and Respond: Think About It (p. 31)

1. Why do you think there is distinct information available about why

elevators should not be used when trying to escape a fire?

2. How do windows aid in the reduction of fire related injuries in the

home?

3. What should people who inhabit a house do while waiting to be

rescued if they are still inside the house?

4. Why do you think the author exaggerates the point about the
usefulness of windows?

5. What additional information do you feel the author should have

included in the passage or would you prefer to remain neutral?

6. Give your opinion about the article using one of our vocabulary
words from any week so far.

44
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Review Lesson for Unit 1 Chapters 1-4

Day One
This week will be a review of the last 4 weeks. All lessons will use
the 40 vocabulary words learned.
1. Review week one words on Mon. Two on Tues. etc.
2. Fill in the blanks
3. Read and Respond
4. Yes/No Why
5. Write a story and retell it.
6. Review quizzes

Activity 1: Fill in the blanks: Use after explicit teaching

Handout – Page 15 in Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
Glancing at Glaciers – page 33 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

YES/NO/WHY

Are principal things preserved?

Are exaggerations excessive?
Are transformed attitudes evident?

Questions to ask after collaborative oral reading. After discussing the

story.
Day One:
Is there a character that exaggerates their feelings? Who?
How is the father’s return a demonstration of his love?

45
Read and Respond: Glancing at Glaciers (p. 33)

1. What determines if ice is a glacier?

2. What happens if an excessive amount of ice forms on a

slope?

3. How do the glaciers help with keeping Alaska fertile?

4. Indicate the forms glaciers take.

5. If you were to pursue glaciers, where would be the best

place to go?

6. Write a question using one of your vocabulary words. The

question needs to be about the article. You will be asking
this question to your classmates.

46
 Review Lesson Unit 1 Chapters 1-4
Day two
Review week two words in class:
Give 1st Review Quiz: See handout: Pretest
Activities:
Fill in the blank:

Page 20 in Groundwork for a better Vocabulary: Synonyms and

Antonyms

Yes/No/ Why:

Is rejection always a frustration?

Is it your preference to remain neutral in discussions?
Are reductions always needed when there are excessive supplies?

Who needs to know this word?

Fragile – An art dealer needs to know this word because they work with
fragile art work.
Contrast –
Deliberate-

Read and Respond: Timed Reading Book 3 : Beware the Air – page 35:
grade 6 instruction
See questions on handout

Questions to ask after collaborative oral reading. After discussing the

story.

Day Two:
Is their a neutral character in this story?
What is Jamee pursuing?

47
Read and Respond: Beware the Air (p. 35)

1. How can you analyze your community to determine if there is air

pollution?

2. What symptoms would indicate you are suffering from air

pollutants?

3. How are animals fragile around air pollutants?

4. What can you do to preserve the life of animals that inhabit your
home?

5. What was one peculiar thing you learned from the article?

6. Give your opinion about the article using one of our vocabulary
words from any week so far.

48
 Review Lesson Unit 1 Chapters 1-4

Day three:
Review week three vocabulary words.

Fill in the blank:

Page 25 – Word Work – Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary

Read and Respond:

Timed Reading Book 3 : An Indian Hero – page 37: grade 6 instruction

See handout for questions.

YES/NO/WHY

Should you analyze your attitude before giving advice?

Can you shop surplus stores for suitable household items?
Is it suitable to demonstrate excessive anger in public?

Retelling a Story Activity:

1. Divide students into 3 or 4 in a group. This is their family group.

2. Number each person in the family group… 1,2,3
3. Then all 1s get together, all 2s get together, 3s together, etc.
4. These groups make up a short story using as many of the
vocabulary words from the four weeks. Each person should be able
to tell the story. They may want to write it down.
5. Then they get back in their original groups (family group)
6. Each person tells their story to the others in their family group

Questions to ask after collaborative oral reading. After discussing the

story
Day Three:
What is the dispute in the story?
Whose feelings are the most fragile in the story?

49
Read and Respond – An Indian Hero (p. 37)

1. Why did Black Hawk make a deliberate act of war?

2. Why was Black Hawk critical of the white man?

3. What caused Black Hawk to have an attitude of hate from boyhood

against the white man?

4. Who did Black Hawk ask to accompany him in the battle against the
white man?

5. What was the dispute known as?

6. Do you think Black Hawk was a hero or that his actions were
excessive?

50
 Review Lesson Unit 1 Chapters 1-4

Day Four:
Review week four vocabulary words:

Fill in the Blank:

Page 33- Fill in the Blank-Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary

Review Quiz – Use the attached handout. Unit 1 Test 1

YES/NO/WHY:

Is it easy to restore a relationship after betrayal?

Is it improper to pursue someone after they have demonstrated rejection
to you?
Is it easy to transform your goals when things get challenging?

Read and Respond:

Timed Reading Book 3 : A Smart Shopper – page 39: grade 6 instruction

See handout for questions.

Questions to ask after collaborative oral reading. After discussing the

story
Day Four:
Tell your partner about what you read using one or two of the vocabulary
words for this week.

51
Read and Respond: A Smart Shopper (p. 39)

1. Which categories of meat are good for nutrition?

2. If you wish to pursue savings, what should you determine to do to be

a smart shopper?

3. What type of comparisons should you make at the meat counter?

4. What is the principal thing you should do if you are to make sure
there is a reduction in your food cost?

5. Using one of your vocabulary words, write a question about the

article for your classmates to answer?

52
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 1 Chapter 5
Aggravate- to make worse
My daughter is very sensitive about her ears. She thinks she has big ears.
So my husband likes to say things to aggravate her about her ears. It just
makes her more sensitive about it.
What are some ways that you can aggravate an injury?

Cease- to stop; discontinue; quit

When my daughters start having their disputes, I tell them to cease. It
drive me crazy to hear their arguing so they have to stop so I can have some
peace.
What is something that you have tried to cease in order to
improve your health?

Coincide- to happen at the same time

My mother is having her 65th birthday in two weeks. We want to have a
surprise birthday party for her. We set a time but then I remembered that I
had another event planned for that same time. I will have to be absent
from the second one because the two events coincide.
What events often coincide with your birthday?

Considerable- quite a bit; rather great; rather large

Many of you know that I like to read. I can read a book all day. It can take
4 or 5 hours. Some people think that is a considerable amount of time but I
don’t. I think sitting in a tree for 5 hours to kill a deer is a considerable
waste of time.
What do you think is a considerable amount of time to study?

Humane- caring; kind; sympathetic; merciful; gentle

I think the way some people treat their animals is not humane. I try to
treat my dog in a humane way. I think she needs kindness and gentleness.
Some people are treated in ways that I don’t think are humane.
What are some situations you can think of when it is important to
have a person who is humane involved?

53
Activity 1: Fill in the blanks: Use after explicit teaching

1. When the teacher is discussing the day’s activities, all talking

should _______________ in order for everyone to hear the
teacher.

2. Bobby will _________________ his broken leg if he tries to

walk without his crutches.

3. The unveiling of the new statue will _______________ with

the Downtown Jubilee festivities.

4. Mary spends a(n) __________________ amount of time

studying for her GED test.

5. The little boy thought it was more ________________ to tell

a lie in order to spare his classmate’s feelings.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Lost in the Woods” page 41– Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

54
 Read and Respond: “Lost in the Woods”
P. 41

1. If an individual is lost in the woods, what are some things he or she might
do that could aggravate the situation, according to the passage?

2. The author talks about deliberately firing a weapon to alert others to the
fact that you are lost. The suggestion is made to fire your weapon three
times. Why does the author suggest such a considerable amount of time in
between each disarming of the weapon?

3. According to the passage, why might a swampy area not be a humane

location for a lost individual?

4. In your opinion, what events should not coincide during the time you are
lost in the woods? Why might these events pose a challenge?

5. What are some ways a person, lost in the woods, might cease or ease
some of his or her frustration?

55
Unit 1 Chapter 5 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Intentional (adjective)- planned; done on purpose
I think people do things in an intentional manner. My daughter’s attitude
toward cleaning her room or should I say not cleaning her room is
intentional. I think she does not do it on purpose.
How do you overcome intentional criticism?

Interference- getting in the way; the act of getting in the way of

something; meddling in someone else’s business; something
that gets in the way
My cell phone sometimes gets interference. I will hear funny noises on it,
and it gets in the way of my hearing the person I am talking to. I also have
an aunt that loves to know what is going on in my husband’s family. All the
time. She causes interference when there is any problem in the family.
What or Who causes interference in your life?

Obnoxious- not pleasant; very unpleasant; distasteful; disgusting

One thing that I find obnoxious is telephone marketers. They will not take
no for an answer. Sometimes I have to hang up on them. To me this is
obnoxious behavior.
Do you know anyone who has an obnoxious attitude? If so, why
do you think he or she is obnoxious?

Unstable- not steady; wobbly; not reliable

I have a dining room chair that I need to get fixed. It is unstable. I don’t
want anyone sitting in it because they might fall. It wobbles when you sit in
it. So because it is unstable, I don’t want my family or guests to sit in it.
What is something in your life that you feel is unstable?

Utilize- to use; to make use of; put to use, especially to good use
I teach in the mornings on my job. In the afternoon I have to do all the
paperwork and administration work for our program. I don’t have that
much time to get everything done so I have to utilize my time. We also
only have so much money for educational supplies here at the adult
education center, so we have to utilize our materials to make sure that we
have enough for the entire year.
What are some ways you utilize your free time or down time?

56
Activity 1
Fill in the blank:

The man had to analyze his transportation options because his car is
_________________ and may break down before he makes it to work.

The pop quiz in math class was a(n)__________________ part of the lesson
plan. The teacher wanted to determine whether or not the students had
been studying.

The high school student quickly realized his part-time job was causing
___________________ with his studies.

My little brother use to act very ________________ when we were at the

table eating, so mother enrolled him in an etiquette class.

In order to complete the research project, Ann will ____________ all of her
resources.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Moving Along with the Times” page 43– Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

57
 Read and Respond: “Moving Along with the Times”
p. 43

1. How might the living arrangements of young businesspeople be

considered unstable?

2. When moving companies are utilized, what principal services might they
offer to ensure your fragile items are protected?

3. The passage discusses the intentional three classes of individuals who

move often. Name these three classes and provide distinct information
about each class.

4. How can the frustrations associated with moving cause interference in the
lives of individuals?

5. Give your opinion about the article using one of our vocabulary words
from any week so far.

58
Yes/No/ Why:

Are you able to intentionally utilize the vocabulary words we are studying in
casual conversation?

Would you ever consider yourself to have an obnoxious attitude that might
aggravate others?

“Who Needs to Know This Word?”

Humane- A doctor needs to know the word humane because in the medical
profession individuals need a caring and compassionate attitude when with
working with patients.

Interference- A referee needs to know the word interference because he needs

to make sure he calls the game correctly.

Etc.

Questions to ask after collaborative oral reading. After discussing the

story.

Day One:
Which characters in the book appear to be the most humane? Why?

What are some of the considerable events in the book so far?

Day Two:

Is there a character in the story that behaves in an obnoxious way? Who? Why?

Are there any events or underlying themes in the book that are causing an interference in you
comprehending a story line? If so, point out to your discussion partner, group or the class where
this interference occurred for you. If you don’t feel there is an interference, explain how you
have analyzed a particular major event in the story so far?

Day Three & Four:

Are there any unstable situations or moments that have not been resolved so far in the book? If
so, what do you feel is an unstable situation or moment?

Tell your partner about what you read using one or two of the vocabulary words for this week.

59
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 2 Chapter 6
Advise- to suggest to; to give advice; recommend
Use your own use of the word

Who often advises you on the challenging decisions in your life?

Current- up-to-date; modern; in general use or practice today

Use your own use of the word

Name on current movie that you enjoy. Explain why you like it?

Deprive- to keep from; to take away from

Use your own use of the word

What is something you feel as though you have been deprived of

lately?

Hesitate- to be undecided; put off acting because of feeling

unsure
Use your own use of the word

What is something you often hesitate in doing?

Maintain- to keep up; to continue; keep in existence

Use your own use of the word

Why do you think it is important to maintain goals in your life?

60
Fill in the Blank:

1. The boy is determined to _______________ the good studying habits

he is currently following.

2. My teacher will ________________ me of the subjects I need to be

studying in order to prepare for the GED.

3. Ann likes to keep up with the _________________ fashion trends.

She often reads articles in the latest fashion magazines.

4. Joshua will often _____________ before volunteering to work math

problems on the board.

5. In order to keep an orderly classroom, the teacher will ____________

the students of a break if they don’t pay attention during instruction
time.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Parade of Pests” – page 45 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

61
 Read and Respond: Parade of Pests
p. 45

1. What is a current practice, discussed in the article that can

be utilized to eliminate ants from a home?

2. Where does the author advise applying insecticide?

3. In your opinion, if ants are deprived of their food source will

they cease their entrance into a home? Give a reason to
support your answer.

4. Why do you think individuals might hesitate to spray

insecticides in their homes?

5. If ants maintain their appearance in the home, what might

be a reason for this continued appearance?
62
Unit 2 Chapter 6 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Minimum- lowest; smallest in size or amount that is allowed or
possible
Use your own use of the word

What do you think should be the minimum legal age for people to
drive? Why?

Objection- dislike of; disapproval

Use your own use of the word

What is something your friends do that you have an objection to

them doing?

Originate- to come into being; start

Use your own use of the word

Do you or someone you know have a nickname? How did that

nickname originate?

Penalize- to punish
Use your own use of the word

How do you think students, in adult education programs, should

be penalized for disturbing or inappropriate behavior?

Reliable- able to be trusted; able to be depended upon

Use your own use of the word

Who is a reliable person in your life?

63
Fill in the blank:

1. The lawyer made a(n) ____________________________ to what the

witness said during the trial.

2. Jack said his truck is ________________. Even after one hundred

thousand miles, his truck hasn’t had any mechanical problems.

3. Mark’s parents will __________________ him if he misses curfew

again.

4. The GED instructor explained the ______________________

requirements for obtaining a GED.

5. Did you know that the Teddy Bear ____________________ (ed) from
a hunting trip in Mississippi.

Fill in the blank:

1. The lawyer made a(n) ____________________________ to what

the witness said during the trial.

2. Jack said his truck is ________________. Even after one hundred

thousand miles, his truck hasn’t had any mechanical problems.

3. Mark’s parents will __________________ him if he misses curfew

again.

4. The GED instructor explained the ______________________

requirements for obtaining a GED.

5. Did you know that the Teddy Bear ____________________ (ed)

from a hunting trip in Mississippi.

64
Yes/No/ Why:

Do you have an objection to parents penalizing children by depriving them

of a meal?

Would you hesitate to start a recycling program in order to maintain the

environment?

“Who Needs to Know This Word?”

Advise- A high school guidance counselor needs to know the word advise
because he or she has to advise students about the classes the students
should take and future career plans.

Reliable- A car salesperson needs to know the word reliable because car
buyers are often looking for a reliable automobile.

Etc.

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“In the Caribbean” – page 47 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

65
 Read and Respond: “In the Caribbean”
p. 47

1. What are some of the reliable exports of the Caribbean?

2. How does the rum of the Caribbean originate?

3. What is a reason visitors might not have an objection to the levels of

poverty in the Caribbean islands?

4. How do the Caribbean resorts allow for minimum exposure of the

island?

5. In what ways are those living in poverty penalized?

6. State your opinion of the article using any of the vocabulary words.

66
 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Unit 2 Chapter 7
Abrupt-not expected; sudden
Use your own use of the word

What are some ways you deal with abrupt changes in your life?

Astonish-to surprise; amaze

Use your own use of the word

Who could walk into this classroom right now that would astonish
you?

Classify-to group; to arrange or place in a category

Use your own use of the word

What are some things you have at home that you classify in
deciding where they should be stored?

Complex- hard to understand; not simple

Use your own use of the word

How do you handle complex problems?

Consent-to say yes; to agree to something

Use your own use of the word

Would you give your consent to let your school-aged child travel
to the moon?

67
Fill in the Blank:

1. A parent must sign a(n) _______________ form before the student

can go on the field trip.

2. According to safety regulations, seat belts help protect passengers

when an automobile makes a(n) _____________ stop.

3. Mark had a difficult time completing the _________________ tax

papers, so he asked an accountant for help.

4. I hope to ____________________ my friend, Tori, by throwing her a

surprise birthday party.

5. The librarian will have to ________________ the new shipment of

books before they can be placed on the shelves.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Delightful Diving Ducks” – page 49 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

68
 Read and Respond: Delightful Diving Ducks
p. 49

1. What are some reliable features used to classify diving ducks

from other ducks?

2. Why has maintaining the wetlands become such a complex

issue, and how does it affect the diving duck?

3. Describe the abrupt landing of the diving duck.

4. What are some of the astonishing characteristics of new

ducklings?

5. When do the diving duck hens grant consent for courtship

(when do they become paired for mating)?

69
Unit 2 Chapter 7 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Eager- happily excited; looking forward to with great interest or
desire
Use your own use of the word

Why do you think people are eager for summer (the season) to
arrive?

Endure- to live with unwillingly; to put up with

Use your own use of the word

What are some current struggles that society will have to endure?

Exclaim- to call out; to speak or cry out suddenly

Use your own use of the word

During graduation ceremonies, the crowds often exclaim as the

graduates are announced. Why is this becoming a major problem
at many schools?

Horizontal- running from side to side; lying flat

Use your own use of the word

Name something horizontal?

Recollect- to remember; bring an image or idea back to mind

Use your own use of the word

What are some of the childhood games you can recollect playing
when you were growing up?

70
Fill in the blank:

1. After knee surgery, the athlete will have to ____________ many

weeks of therapy and strength training.

2. According to the fashion magazines, ______________ stripes add

weight to the midsection.

3. The crowd at the concert will __________________ when the

performers take the stage.

4. I couldn’t ___________________ my friend’s telephone number, so I

stored the number in my cellular phone.

5. Marsha was _________________ to go to Paris. She was happy to

have this opportunity to visit another country.

Fill in the blank:

1. After knee surgery, the athlete will have to ____________ many

weeks of therapy and strength training.

2. According to the fashion magazines, ______________ stripes add

weight to the midsection.

3. The crowd at the concert will __________________ when the

performers take the stage.

4. I couldn’t ___________________ my friend’s telephone number, so I

stored the number in my cellular phone.

5. Marsha was _________________ to go to Paris. She was happy to

have this opportunity to visit another country.

71
Yes/No/ Why: Day 2 or 3

Do you hesitate to tackle the complex problems in your life?

Are you eager to endure some of the difficulties you might face in achieving
your goals?

Do you tend to classify your friends based on the reliability they display to
your friendship?

“Who Needs to Know This Word?”

Classify- A botanist needs to know the word classify because it is his or her
job to classify plants.

Horizontal- A painter needs to know the word horizontal because if

someone wants a room to be painted with horizontal stripes, he needs to
know what direction to paint the stripes.

Etc.

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Up, Up and Away” – page 51 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

72
 Read and Respond: “Up, Up and Away”
p. 51

1. The passage describes how eager the Wright brothers were

to fly. How did they determine who would fly the machine
first?

2. The Wright brothers didn’t face the problem of the plane

going horizontal. What challenges did the Wright brothers
endure while at camp in Kill Devil Hills?

3. The crowd gathered probably exclaimed at the first flight in

history. How long did Orville Wright’s flight last?

4. What interesting facts do you recollect about the article?

73
 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Unit 2 Chapter 8
adequate – Good enough (to meet the need)
I didn't leave adequate time to drive to the airport.

Do you feel like the instruction we give is adequate?

appeal – to make an important request to someone for

something
After the riot broke out, the police chief appealed for calm.

Can you appeal for more time to take a GED test? Why?

awkward – Clumsy not graceful

A seal seems awkward on dry land.

Would you feel awkward if you were interviewed on live T.V.?

Why?

customary- Usually, commonly done

It is customary to clock in and out on the computer in the hall.

What is customary for you to do on a Sunday?

establish – to bring into being; set up

We try to establish a good relationship with each student .

What study habits are you trying to establish?

74
Fill in the Blank:

1 It is __________________to remove your hat when inside the building.

2 The Minister had to _______________for funds to fix the church roof.

3 I felt ____________when I entered a room full of strangers.

4 A smart way to manage money would be to ____________a bank

account.

5 Very few people ever think their rate of pay is _________________.

Finish the sentence:

1 When I find myself in an awkward situation I_____________________.

2 It is customary in my house to_________________________________.

3 The first thing you should establish in a marriage is________________.

4 The one thing I would add to my life if I had adequate time or money
would be________________.

5 If you appeal to me to contribute to a good cause, I would be likely

to__________.

Activity 2
Read and Respond

“The History of heating in the United States” – page 73 – Timed Readings

Plus in Social Studies Book 2

75
Read and Respond: “The History of Heating in the United
States” P. 73

1 Why would the iron-box stove appeal to New England's

colonists?

2 Why was the iron-box stove a less than adequate method for
heating the whole house?

3 What new method of heating homes was established in the

1800's?

4 What was awkward about keeping a furnace going in the early

1900's?

5 What situation led to the customary use of oil and natural gas as
furnace fuels?

76
Unit 2 Chapter 8 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
potential – A natural ability that may or may not develop;
possibility
A home-based business has the potential to earn significant
income.

In what area do you see that you have potential?

respond – To answer by word or action

I try to respond to messages left on my cell phone or my e-mail.

How do you respond to criticism?

vanish – To disappear from sight

My wife's wedding ring just vanished one day and we have never
found it.

Who or what would you wish would vanish from your life?

variety – A number of different kinds; assortment

I like a variety of music to listen to.

How do you achieve variety in your diet?

wholesome – Tending to improve the character, mind or body

I wish there was more wholesome entertainment on Cable TV.

What would constitute a wholesome lifestyle for you?

77
FILL IN THE BLANK

In the fall, the trees display a wonderful _____________of colors.

The landlord did not ______________to my letter of complaint.

Hula-hooping seems to a ______________activity for girls of all ages.

The young pianist displayed tremendous ________________.

If I could make all my problems _____________, would I be happy?

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE

My idea of wholesome entertainment for the entire family would

be_________________________.

If I were a magician the person or object I would make vanish with a

wave of my wand would be_____________________.

The area where I show the greatest potential is ____________.

If you came to my house you would find a variety of_________.

If you want me to respond to you positively you

should________________.

78
READ AND RESPOND: "How Iron and Steel Changed Architecture"

Timed Readings Plus In Social Studies Book Two Page 25

1. What variety of materials was used to build structures before

1840?

2. How did Sir Henry Bessemer respond to the problem of how to

produce a stronger building material?

3. Why might cast iron not be as wholesome as pure steel?

4. What is the potential benefit of taller buildings?

5. Why are we unlikely to see skyscrapers vanish from our city

skylines?

79
 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Unit 2 Chapter 9
brutal– Cruel; heartless
It upsets me when people are brutal to children.

Do you watch movies that would be considered brutal? Why?

discipline – To punish; cause to suffer for doing wrong

It's my responsibility to discipline my children.

Which is easier – to discipline a child or an adult? Why?

eliminate – To get rid of; do away with

I would like to eliminate my debt.

What do you wish to eliminate from your life?

emphasis – Special attention; importance given to something

My degree from college had an emphasis on Elementary
Education.

What part of your studies needs the most emphasis,in your

opinion?

furthermore – In addition; besides

I believe love is an action not just a feeling, furthermore I think
you have to practice what you preach.

Can you use furthermore in a sentence?

80
FILL IN THE BLANK

The person who wants to lose weight might want to ___________junk food
from their diet.

The shooting rampage at Fort Hood military base was a __________act.

The Spanish teacher made sure her ______________was on correct

pronunciation.

The Staff Sergeant was determined to ________________the raw recruits.

The characters in the novel were unbelievable and _____________, the

plot was predictable.

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE

If I could talk to President Obama, I would tell him that his emphasis
should be _________________________.

The area of my life that lacks discipline would be_______________.

If someone is brutal in their treatment of animals, I think they

should_________________.

If I could eliminate one bad habit with a wave of my hand, it would be

______________________.

I think_____________________________and furthermore,___________.

81
READ AND RESPOND: "The Black Death"

Six Way Paragraphs Middle Level p, 130

1. What was brutal about the way the bubonic plague swept
through Europe?

2. Why might plague sufferers believe that may be they were

being disciplined?

3. By the time the plague was eliminated from Europe in

1350, how many people had lost their lives?

4. If bubonic plague were to reappear today what would be

the emphasis on how to treat the outbreak?

5. Think of two reasons why the plague might not affect us

today in the same way as it did back then. Connect your two
reasons with -furthermore- ?

82
Unit 2 Chapter 9 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
interpret – to explain the meaning of; make sense of
Teachers have to learn to interpret a student's body language.

How do you interpret it when someone hangs up the phone on

you?

propose – to put forward for thinking over or accepting; suggest

(an idea)
I proposed marriage to my wife by singing a song to her.

How would you propose we improve our classes?

resort – to turn or go(to) for help; use for aid

When my van was off the road, I had to resort to walking to work.

Would you ever resort to cheating in order to pass a test? Why?

Ultimate – greatest; highest possible

My ultimate goal in teaching is to see every student succeed.

What would you consider ultimate success?

Vague – not clear; not exact; not definite

I hate it when people give vague directions.

Can you succeed by giving a vague answer to a math question?

Explain your answer.

83
FILL IN THE BLANK

Michael Jordan is viewed by many as the _____________basketball player.

The government is trying to ____________ an overhaul of the health-care

system.

We are not sure why she left because her reasons for leaving were
_______.

The children were so angry with each other that they __________ed to
name calling.

The detective __________________ed the cryptic message left on the

answering machine as an important clue.

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE

If someone cuts me off in a conversation, I interpret that as___________.

In order to create more good paying jobs, I propose________________ .

When the temperature drops I resort to___________________________.

My ultimate vacation would be __________________________________.

When I am vague about what I am being asked to do, I_____________.

84
READ AND RESPOND "Brazil's Favelas"

Six Way Paragraphs In the Content Areas Middle Level p, 156

1. What leads millions of Brazilians to resort to living in temporary

shelters?

2. Why might Andarai 's appearance of being well kept and permanent
be a somewhat vague idea?

3. What might most favela residents propose as a solution to their

problems?

4. How might you interpret the actions of people who cut down the
trees at the top of the hill knowing that increases the chances of
mudslides and flooding?

5. What are the ultimate goals of the Self-help community

organizations?

YES/NO/WHY?

Is it difficult to interpret a vague statement?

Would you ever propose that someone give an ultimate effort?

85
 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Unit 2 Lesson 6-9 Review

Day One: Handout: Review pre-test for all words

Review week one words:

Advise minimum
Current objection
Deprive originate
Hesitate penalize
Maintain reliable

Yes/No/Why Questions

Do you have an objection to people being deprived educationally?

Should you be penalized for giving your employer a minimum

amount of work for a full day’s pay? Do you think that it is
adequate?

Are current news shows reliable?

86
In the space provided, write the letter of the choice that best
completes each item.

1. _____ You are likely to have an objection to something

a. helpful b. harmful c. recent

2. _____ To maintain good health, you should

a. start smoking b. shop c. exercise

3. _____ Current movies are

a. playing now b. old classics c. comedies

4. _____ “When your cousin visits, he’ll be sharing your

room.” Tim’s mother announced. Tim realized he would be
deprived of his
a. meals b. relatives c. privacy

5. _____ To buy clothing at the minimum cost, go to

a. department stores b. garage sales c. France

87
 Read & Respond: Thomas Jefferson Page 105, Timed Reading
Plus Book Three

1. What were the current clothing fashions during Jefferson’s

day?

2. What in the passage supports the idea that Jefferson did not
penalize people based on their race?

3. What did Jefferson deprive himself of in his life?

4. What did Jefferson establish that our country has

maintained?

5. What advise did Jefferson give to the people of our

government?

88
DAY TWO:

Review Week Two Words:

Abrupt eager
Astonish endure
Classify exclaim
Complex horizontal
Consent recollect

YES/NO/WHY

Are you astonished by how much you recollect?

Are current trends complex?

Is abrupt change easy to endure?

Synonyms and Antonyms Page 58 of Groundwork for a Better

Vocabulary

89
Read & Respond: Sleep page 62, Six way paragraphs in the
Content Areas

1. In what ways does the author of this passage classify sleep?

2. What astonishing tragedies have been linked to lack of

sleep?

3. Why should you be eager to get 8 hours of sleep?

4. Recollect a time you didn’t get enough sleep. How did being
deprived of sleep affect you?

90
Day Three

Review Week Three words:

Adequate potential
Appeal respond
Awkward vanish
Customary variety
Establish wholesome

YES/NO/WHY

Is potential reached by being adequate?

Are establish and originate the same thing?

Are awkward moments difficult to endure?

Are there a variety of wholesome activities available in Grenada?

Fill in the Blank:Page 62 in Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary

91
Read and Respond: Herbs: Plants of Many Uses, page 21, Timed
Readings Plus in Science, Book Three

1. Why is it complex to use herbs in an adequate manner?

2. Explain how herbs have been used in a variety of ways?

3. What is the customary way doctors and scientist use herbs

in current medicine?

4. How do you respond to the appeal to use herbal products in

your daily life?

5. What is a wholesome way to use herbs?

92
Day Four

Review Week four words:

Brutal interpret
Discipline propose
Eliminate resort
Emphasis ultimate
Furthermore vague

YES/NO/WHY

Do you hesitate to propose new ideas?

Is it easy to interpret current national issues?

Fill in the Blank:

Page 70 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary

Handout: Review post-test for all 40 words

93
Read & Respond: What Do the Fossils Tell Us? Page 122, Six Way
Paragraphs in the Content Areas.

1. What is a word in the reading that could be replaced with

brutal?

2. What evidence have scientist found that leads them to

interpret that Neanderthals cared about each other?

3. Is the article vague about life millions of years ago? What

would you like to know about life millions of years ago?

4. What is the emphasis of this article?

5. What do scientist believe was the reason Neanderthals were

so awkward?

94
 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Unit 2 Chapter 10
Accustomed - used to something
(Your context here)

What are you accustomed to doing first thing in the morning?

Anticipate - to think likely to happen

(Your context here)

How do you anticipate that your day will go? Why?

Linger - to stay or hang around

(Your context here)

Is there a shop or restaurant where you like to linger? Why?

Miserable - uncomfortable, unhappy

(Your context here)

What is one thing that would cause you to be miserable?

Misinterpret - to understand wrongly

(Your context here)

Have you ever misinterpreted someone's words or actions?

95
Fill in the Blank:

1. Frank _______________ the smile that Alice gave him as meaning

she really liked him.

2. My mother always told me not to _______________ around the

school after hours.

3. "I've grown __________________ to her face" is a famous song from

"My Fair Lady".

4. Watching the evening news tends to make me ______________.

5. The runner learned to __________________the starting gun in order

to get a fast start.

Fill in the Blank:

1. Frank _______________ the smile that Alice gave him as meaning

she really liked him.

2. My mother always told me not to _______________ around the

school after hours.

3. "I've grown __________________ to her face" is a famous song from

"My Fair Lady".

4. Watching the evening news tends to make me ______________.

5. The runner learned to __________________the starting gun in order

to get a fast start.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Choosing and Training a Dog” – page 83 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

96
 Read and Respond: Choosing and Training a Dog
p. 83 Timed Reading Book Three

1. What signs might help you anticipate when your dog needs to
be taken outside?

2. What weather conditions might cause your dog to linger?

3. What activities might a sporting dog be accustomed to doing?

4. Why might your dog’s actions cause your neighbors to

misinterpret your friendliness?

5. If an elderly friend was feeling miserable would you

recommend getting them a dog and if so which kind?

97
Unit 2 Chapter 10 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Occur - to happen
(Your context here)

If you were called to the witness stand in a court case would you
have difficulty remembering what occurred?

Particular - special, one-of-a-kind

(Your context here)

Is there a particular restaurant you would eat at if money was not

an issue? Why?

reluctant - unwilling to do something

(Your context here)

Would you be reluctant to lend money to someone? Why?

revise - to make changes in

(Your context here)

Why do you think it’s important to revise an essay before handing

it in?

version - retelling of a story or a piece of music

(Your context here)

Have you ever owned more than one version of a song or a movie?
Why?

98
Fill in the blank:

1. Johnnie Cochran made sure the jury believed O.J.'s

________________of the story.

2. The mother was ___________________ to let her daughter start

dating.

3. The scientists are not sure when the meteor strike might
___________.

4. The GED examiner explained that it was O.K. to ___________ the

essay before turning it in.

5. Gerald Ford was ________________to take on the role of President

following the Watergate scandal.

Fill in the blank:

1. Johnnie Cochran made sure the jury believed O.J.'s

________________of the story.

2. The mother was ___________________ to let her daughter start

dating.

3. The scientists are not sure when the meteor strike might
___________.

4. The GED examiner explained that it was O.K. to ___________ the

essay before turning it in.

5. Gerald Ford was ________________to take on the role of President

following the Watergate scandal.

99
Yes/No/ Why: Day 2 or 3

Would you be reluctant to anticipate good things in your future?

Can being misinterpreted cause you to be miserable?

Is it necessary to revise a version of a story to make a good movie?

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“A Sticky Wicket” – page 27 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

SUPPLEMENTARY WORK

Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary Page 74

Check 1 and Check 2

Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary Page 75

Word Work

100
 Read and Respond: “A Sticky Wicket”
Page 27 – Timed Reading Book Three

1. Why might you be reluctant to play Rugby Football?

2. What occurs when a batter hits a fly ball that is caught?

3. Rugby is a British version of a well-known American sport. What are

some of the major differences?

4. What British sport is of particular interest to someone who plays

soccer?

5. If you could revise the rules of Cricket to more closely resemble

Baseball what would you change and why?

6. State your opinion of the article using any of the vocabulary words.

101
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 3 Chapter 11
assume – to suppose to be true; take for granted
I assumed that my wife was going to pick up the children from
school.

What should I not assume about you?

conscious – aware (of something) noticing (that something is or

was happening or existing)
I am conscious of using the proper vocabulary when addressing
students.

Are you conscious of distracting behavior in the classroom?

external – Outer; located outside

My computer is so full of files. I really need an external hard
drive to store all my work.

Why do you think so many people are concerned with their

external appearance rather than their inner character?

incredible – unbelievable; amazing; extraordinary

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was incredible.

What is the most incredible event you have ever witnessed?

Internal – inner; located inside

My car looked fine from the outside but the internal mechanism
of the engine needed repair.

Have you ever had an internal organ removed?

102
Fill in the blank:

1 Then inside of the house had recently been painted, but

________________ly the home needed some repair.

2 The fourth quarter comeback by the home team was nothing

short of _________________.

3 It is foolish to ______________that everybody understands your

point of view.

4 The boy was not _______________that he had offended

anyone.

5 The _______________memo from the boss informed the staff

that there would be no overtime until further notice.

Finish the sentence:

1 An incredible achievement for me would be________________

_____________________________________________________.
2 When meeting new people I am conscious of ______________

3 To look at me you might assume________________________

_____________________________________________________.

4 To improve my external appearance I might________________.

_____________________________________________________

5 My internal motivation for success is _____________________

_____________________________________________________.

103
Read and Respond “Cryosurgery”
Page 144 Six-way Paragraphs in the Content Areas (Middle level)

1. How does cryosurgery work on external lesions?

2. What would you assume might happen if the body

was exposed to extremely cold temperatures?

3. What internal problem might a doctor use a

cryoprobe for?

4. Which procedure mentioned in the passage might the

patient be conscious during?

5. What is the most incredible piece of new information

contained in the passage, in your opinion?

104
YES?NO?WHY?

Can you assume that a person you are conversing with is

conscious of your presence?
Is it possible to feel an incredible external activity
internally?

105
 Unit 3 Chapter 11 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
maximum – Most, highest; largest possible
Each week I devote the maximum amount of time to preparing my
lessons.

In what area of your life do you feel you give the maximum effort?

protest – To complain; express dissatisfaction

I expect to see the Haitian people protest if aid does not come
quickly after the earthquake.

Have you ever protested an unfair decision?

remedy - A cure; something that heals.

People are always looking for a remedy for whatever ails them

What's the best remedy for the common cold?

spectacle - a surprising or unusual sight; a public display or

scene
The sight of all the brightly colored floats lined up for the parade
made quite a spectacle.

Have you ever made a public spectacle of yourself?

verdict - a decision or judgment

My verdict is that the popularity of American Idol will wane after
Simon leaves the show.

If you had to serve on a jury, could you reach a verdict?

106
Fill in blank:

1 The Rose Bowl Parade is always such a

__________________every year.

2 Most children ____________when told they must go to bed.

3 When the foreman delivered the jury's _____________, the

whole courtroom erupted.

4 When I fill out my tax return, I want to make sure I claim the
____________deductions allowed.

5 Grandma used to have a _______________for any kind of

sickness.

Finish the sentence:

1 If I spent the maximum amount of time studying then I'm sure

that __________________.

2 If Dr. Martin Luther King were alive today, he would

protest______________________.

3 The best remedy for a broken heart is____________________.

4 The greatest spectacle I have ever witnessed was

_____________________________.

5 My verdict on how I am doing in school is ____________.

107
The Prince Tames A Horse
Six way paragraphs (middle level) P.92

1. Why did Alexander protest his father's decision not to

buy the horse Bucephalus?

2. What was Alexander's remedy to deal with what was

bothering the horse?

3. Describe the maximum effort that Alexander gave to

tame the wild horse.

4. What spectacle led to the group loudly shouting upon

Alexander's return upon the horse?

5. How did Philip's verdict on the exploits of his son

contribute to Alexander's future destiny?

108
Fill in the blank II

The ___________________of acrobats performing on stage in

perfect co-ordination with the music was a sight to behold.

An insurance deductable is the _________________amount

someone should have to pay before their coverage kicks in.

According to the U.S. Constitution, a citizen has the right to

assemble and to ______________ when he feels that the
Government is not doing its job.

The _____________is in and the season of “24: promises to be a

thrill ride for viewers.

Putting an ice pack on a bruise is an accepted __________for that

type of injury.

YES/ NO / WHY?

Is it possible for a jury verdict to provide a remedy?

Could the maximum amount of protest provide a spectacle?

109
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 3 Chapter 12
Artificial - made by humans, man-made
Those artificial flowers look real, if you don't get too close.

When would you prefer to use natural objects rather than artificial
ones?

Complicate - to make difficult

I thought I was trying to help, but all I did was complicate the
situation.

Can you describe a situation that began simply but then became
complicated?
Conscience- moral sense
Taking that cookie from the jar really pricked my conscience.

Do you think that being called for jury duty is a matter of

conscience?

Counsel - to suggest to
My friend counseled me to follow my heart.

How would you counsel someone who wants to have plastic

surgery?.

Detect - to notice
I detect a certain resistance to reading in many of my students.

Have you ever detected a difference between brands of cola?

110
Fill in the Blank:

1. Jenny often found a way to ______________the relationship.

2. Do you _____________a rather strange odor in the kitchen?

3. Bob had already raised his gun to shoot the deer when he
noticed it was _______________.
4. My _________________won't allow me to drink and drive.
5. The pastor decided to ______________ the couple against
marriage, after he visited them in jail.

Fill in the Blank:

1. Jenny often found a way to ______________the relationship.

2. Do you _____________a rather strange odor in the kitchen?

3. Bob had already raised his gun to shoot the deer when he
noticed it was _______________.
4. My _________________won't allow me to drink and drive.
5. The pastor decided to ______________ the couple against
marriage, after he visited them in jail.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“The Pathfinder” – page 21– Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

111
 Read and Respond: The Pathfinder
Page 21 Timed Reading Book Three

1. What circumstances might complicate a simple walk in a

forest?

2. In what ways is an experienced woodsman able to detect his

position?

3. How would you counsel a young person about to take a

hike in unfamiliar surroundings?

4. Are there any artificial means by which a hiker could find

his way out of a forest?

5. Would your conscience allow you to wait a certain length

of time before starting to search for a missing hiker?

112
 Unit 3 Chapter 12 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Frequency– How often something happens
My current state of health has a lot to do with the frequency that I
exercise.

With what frequency do you find yourself looking up something

you don't know?

represent – To act or speak for

Athletes are in training to represent their countries in the
upcoming Winter Olympic Games.

Which politician or political party best represents your political

views? Who would you allow to represent you in court? Why?

temporary – Lasting or serving for a limited time only; not

permanent.
Since our window was broken we have a temporary solution until
it is replaced – card and duck tape!

Are there any advantages in having a temporary job?

transparent – Allowing light to pass through so that objects on

the other side can be seen
Transparent packaging helps consumers see what they are buying.

What might cause a windshield not to be transparent?

triumph – an outstanding or very satisfying success; victory

Only one team's football season will end in triumph after the
Superbowl.

What do you think was your greatest triumph?

113
Fill in the blank:

1. Johnnie Cochran made a name for himself when he chose to

_____________O.J. Simpson.

2. The parents disagreed with their daughter over the ____________of her
dating.

3. "Remember the Titans" told the story of the ______________ of team

unity over racism.

4. The doctor explained that the symptoms were only _________________.

5. Because the packaging was _____________Jade was able to tell what was
inside.

Fill in the blank:

1. Johnnie Cochran made a name for himself when he chose to

_____________O.J. Simpson.

2. The parents disagreed with their daughter over the ____________of her
dating.

3. "Remember the Titans" told the story of the ______________ of team

unity over racism.

4. The doctor explained that the symptoms were only _________________.

5. Because the packaging was _____________Jade was able to tell what was
inside.

114
Yes/No/ Why: Day 2 or 3

Can triumphs complicate our lives?

Is it proper to counsel people to follow their conscience?

Is it easy to detect artificial things?

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“An Unexpected Drama” – page 95 – Timed Readings book three
See handout for questions.

115
 Read and Respond: “An Unexpected Drama”
Page 95 Timed Readings Book Three

1. Why do you think it probable that John Wilkes Booth used a gun with
frequency?

2. What object that represented the United States, decorated the theater
box?

3. What outcome caused John Wilkes Booth to feel he had triumphed?

4. What injury proved no more than a temporary inconvenience to Mr.

Booth?

5. What attitude that Booth had towards Lincoln appears transparent in

this story?

6. State your opinion of the article using any of this week's vocabulary
words.

116
Fill in the blank:

1 I hope I never have to pay a lawyer to ________________me.

2 President Obama wants government to be _________________.

3 The _________________of commercials in the Superbowl

makes the game last forever.

4 Hitting the buzzer beater caused the underdog team to

________.

5 The manager said that he hoped the lay-off would only be

_______________.

Finish the sentence:

1 The pastime or hobby that I do with the most frequency

is___________________________________________.

2 The style that I most represent is _____________________.

3 The situation in my life that I hope is only temporary is

________________________________________________.

4 If my life was transparent, I would be afraid people might see

_______________________________________________.

5 My moment of greatest triumph is / was / will

be______________________________________________.

117
The Ageless Wonder
Six way paragraphs (middle level) P. 100

4. Why do you think Leroy “Satchel” Paige was not

transparent about his real age?

5. What is the frequency with which Paige might be

required to pitch?

6. How well do you think that “Satchel” Paige represented

the Negro Leagues?

4. What might have led fans to believe that the signing of

Paige would just be temporary?

5. What triumph did the Cleveland Indians achieve largely

due to Paige's skill and success?

YES/NO/WHY
If you perform with frequency could you be good enough to
represent?

Is a triumph only temporary?

118
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 3 Chapter 13
agonizing – causing great physical or mental pain
Listening to my children complain is agonizing. It really causes me
pain to hear them complain when they are so blessed.
Have you had an agonizing moment in your life?

energetic– lively; full of energy

I have an energetic nephew. He can not stay still. He really wears
me out when he is around.
What energetic sport do you like?

Foresight – care in planning or preparing for the future

When I got married and was still in college, I had the foresight to
put off having children until I finished college and was in a career.
What have you had the foresight to do?

interval– the period of time between two events

We have an interval between class sessions. We like to give you a
week off while we enroll new students between classes. So the
interval between class sessions is one week.
How long of an interval do you think there should be between
classes during the morning? Why?

Prosper – to succeed
I want to see our school prosper. I think having committed
students and good instructors will contribute to our school’s
success.
What area of your life do you want to prosper in the most?

119
Activity 1: Fill in the blanks:

1. The _______________ between Christmas and New

Year’s Day is only one week.
2. The ____________ soccer game left all the players
tired and hungry.
3. Someone who always jumps from job to job is not
likely to ___________________.
4. After hours in the blazing sun, the hikers felt an
______________ thirst.
5. People who are always late show a lack of
_______________.

Activity 1: Fill in the blanks:

1. The _______________ between Christmas and New

Year’s Day is only one week.
2. The ____________ soccer game left all the players
tired and hungry.
3. Someone who always jumps from job to job is not
likely to ___________________.
4. After hours in the blazing sun, the hikers felt an
______________ thirst.
5. People who are always late show a lack of
_______________.

__________________________________________________
120
Read and Respond: Let It Fly, p. 23 Timed Readings Book Two

1. Why do you think the author of this writing was so energetic

in his writing about bows and arrows?

2. Why do you think man prospered with the invention of the

bow and arrow?

3. Did the African pygmies have to have foresight in their

hunting method? Why or Why not?

4. What kind of interval is there between shots with a bow and

arrow?

5. Why would using a bow and arrow for a long period of time
be agonizing?

121
Unit 3 Chapter 13 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
strive – to try hard
(your context here)

How do you strive to get your GED?

Substance – a physical material; matter of a particular type

(your context here)

What substance do you find hard to believe people become

addicted to?

Tolerance – respect for the differing views, practices, and

characteristic of others; lack of prejudice
(your context here)

What do you do that shows you have a tolerance for people who
are different from you?

Trait – a quality or feature for which a person is known

(your context here)

What do you feel is your best trait?

Withdraw – to take back; remove

(your context here)

When might you like to withdraw something you have said?

122
Activity 1: Fill in the blanks:

1. I wished I could _______________ my angry words,

but it was too late.
2. Shelby ____________s to do well in all her classes.
3. Martin Luther King taught that all people should be
viewed with ____________________ no matter what
their race or religious beliefs.
4. Patience is an important _________ for a preschool
teacher.
5. The silver-colored __________________ inside an
old-fashioned thermometer is called mercury.

Activity 1: Fill in the blanks:

1. I wished I could _______________ my angry words,

but it was too late.
2. Shelby ____________s to do well in all her classes.
3. Martin Luther King taught that all people should be
viewed with ____________________ no matter what
their race or religious beliefs.
4. Patience is an important _________ for a preschool
teacher.
5. The silver-colored __________________ inside an
old-fashioned thermometer is called mercury.

__________________________________________________

123
Read and Respond: People’s Best Friend, p. 85 Timed Readings
Plus Book Two

1. Why would a dog withdraw from its master?

2. Why do dogs strive to be with other dogs or people?

3. Before getting a dog, what things should you consider to

determine whether you have a tolerance for one?

4. What traits make a dog a good pet?

5. substances?????

124
Yes/No/ Why Questions

Is it easy to strive to have tolerance for all people?

Is the ability to prosper dependant on foresight?

Do we always withdraw from agonizing experiences?

125
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 3 Chapter 13 (2)
agonizing - causing great physical or mental pain
My friend had to make an agonizing decision to turn off his
father's life support.

Have you ever suffered an agonizing injury?

energetic - lively; spirited; full of energy

My mother is still energetic enough to exercise and take care
of herself.

What is the most energetic activity you engage in?

foresight - care in planning or preparing for the future

I wish I could have had the foresight to prepare for these
tough economic times.

What do you wish you could have foresight for?

interval - the period of time between two events

There was a twenty minute interval between the births of the
twins.

What do people do during the interval of a ball game or a

concert?

prosper- to succeed, especially financially

Many believe that America's way of life helps people
prosper.

How do you intend to prosper?

126
FILL IN THE BLANK

1. During the ____________of the ball game, I bought a hotdog.

2. The dancers gave an ___________________display for the

audience.

3. I have been _____________________over whether to change my

career.

4. The only way to ___________in this economy is to work two jobs.

5. Before buying the new car, James had the ______________to

read Consumer Reports.

FINISH THE SENTENCE

1. The most agonizing part of Valentine’s day

is________________________________.

2. The best way for me to become energetic

is________________________________.

3. The area of my life in which I most need foresight

is___________________________.

4. What I like to do in the interval between classes

is____________________________.

5. In order for me to prosper, I need to

______________________________________.

127
Read and Respond - The History of Valentine's
Day

1. Why might the outlawing of marriage have meant an

agonizing decision for many young men?

2. What is Valentine supposed to have done in the interval

between his being imprisoned and his death?

3. During the Festival of Lupercalia who had the most

energetic task?

4. Why might the sending of a Valentine's card be an

example of foresight?

5. What were some of the reasons that the idea of sending

Valentine's cards prospered?

YES / NO / WHY?

Is agonizing over a decision the same as using foresight?

Can you prosper simply by being energetic?

128
Unit 3 Chapter 13 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
strive - to try hard
I always strive to keep a sense of humor about my work.

Do you feel that you strive to succeed educationally?

substance - a physical material; matter of a particular

type
Molasses is a sweet sticky substance.

Describe a substance without mentioning it by name, and

see if we can guess what it is!

tolerance - Respect for the differing views, practices and

characteristics of others; lack of prejudice
The variety of cultures represented in a community should
help people practice tolerance.

What aspect of another's life do you find it hard to have

tolerance for?

trait - a quality or feature; as of personality, for which a

person is known
The trait that I most admire in a person is honesty.

What trait do you hate to see displayed in another person?

withdraw - to take back(something or a statement);

remove
When I injured my foot, I had to withdraw from the race.

What statement have you ever made that you later might
have wished to withdraw?

129
FILL IN THE BLANK

1. The detective noticed a suspicious, white, powdery

_______________on the floor of the vehicle.

2. "I hereby _______________my name from the ballot, " said the
candidate.

3. "I will always ____________to put the country first," said the
President.

4. Children very often develop __________s that were apparent in

both parents.

5. To choose to befriend someone from a different race or culture is

an example of ______________.

FINISH THE SENTENCE

1. I will always strive to________________________________.

2. If I discovered a strange substance on the floor, I

would___________________________.

3. One example of showing tolerance

is___________________________.

4. The trait I most admire in my best friend

is____________________________.

5. You might withdraw from school but you can never withdraw
from____________________.

130
Read and Respond - Changing tunes for changing times
Timed reading Plus in Social Studies Book 4 p.37

1. What were some of the traits that were part of the early
black music tradition?

2. How did African American musicians strive to move in

new directions?

3. What happened as musicians began to withdraw from

rural regions and move to the cities?

4. How might you describe the substance of the new urban

music called hip-hop or rap?

5. How do you think the acceptance of new musical forms

encourages tolerance?

YES / NO / WHY?

Is tolerance always a positive trait?

If you strive to prosper are you bound to increase your

substance?

131
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 3 Chapter 14
Approximately - about, in the range of, to come close to
I located the whereabouts of my phone approximately, as I could
hear its ring.
Do you think it would be O.k. to approximately drive the speed
limit?

Consistent - steady, reliable

I am consistent in the way that I treat other people.

Can you say that your effort to educate yourself has been
consistent?

Cope- to handle difficulties and overcome.

I have had to cope with living a long way from my family.

How do you cope with balancing the demands of home, work, and
school?

Evaluate- to judge
I wonder how my boss evaluates my job performance.

How would you evaluate your attitude to your studies?

Phrase - a word group

I enjoy thinking of an unusual phrase, from time to time, to use in
my writing.

Do you have a favorite catch phrase that you use in everyday

conversation?

132
Fill in the Blank:

1. "Go ahead, make my day!" was a famous _________

spoken by Clint Eastwood.
2. The grieving widow was not sure that she could
________with speaking to everyone.
3. Ann had to report _______________how many
customers she had served that morning.
4. The manager was left to ____________ his company's
substantial loss.
5. "You're going to have to be ________________," said
the coach to his rookie pitcher.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Let's keep it clean” – page 73– Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

133
 Read and Respond: Let's Keep it Clean
Page 73 Timed Readings Book Three

1. Approximately how much of a person's body is water?

2. What phrase describes the condition of polluted water?

3. What are some of the ways that we consistently pollute our

water?

4. How would you cope with the need to drink five pints of
water each day?

5. What would you do to evaluate whether your water supply

is safe?

134
Unit 3 Chapter 14 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Plea - an urgent request
I made a plea to my son to clean up his room.

If someone made a plea for money, how would you respond?

practical - sensible
It wouldn't be practical for me travel to Europe every year.

Do you have a practical idea for saving energy?

random - without order

I hate to find my CD's or DVD's arranged randomly.

Have you ever picked up a book at random and then found you
enjoyed it?

significant - meaningful, large, having a major effect

I hope I have had a significant impact on my children.

Can you describe how someone has helped you in a significant

way?

Sole - only, one

I never want the sole reason for calling somebody to be because I
need something from them.

Do you think there is a sole purpose for getting married?

135
Fill in the blank:

1. The drowning man made a ________for help, which went unheeded.

2. After the will was read, Arthur realized he was the _______heir to the
family fortune.

3. The painting appeared to be a series of _____________brush strokes with

no apparent purpose.

4. Sarah decided it was more ______________to take the bus than to drive
her own car.

5. I felt that the message scrawled in lipstick on the vanity mirror was
________________.

Fill in the blank:

1. The drowning man made a ________for help, which went unheeded.

2. After the will was read, Arthur realized he was the _______heir to the
family fortune.

3. The painting appeared to be a series of _____________brush strokes with

no apparent purpose.

4. Sarah decided it was more ______________to take the bus than to drive
her own car.

5. I felt that the message scrawled in lipstick on the vanity mirror was
________________.

136
Yes/No/ Why: Day 2 or 3

Do you think that the justice system is consistent in the way it copes with
high profile cases?

Is it practical to evaluate our progress?

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“A toast to the toaster” – page 105 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

137
 Read and Respond: “A Toast to the Toaster”
Page 105 Timed Readings Book Three

1. When approximately did electric toasters come into existence?

2. What might be the sole reason for looking for the seal of approval
from an independent testing laboratory?

3. If you did not feel able to cope with a complicated piece of

equipment, which toaster might you purchase?

4. With regard to child safety, what plea might you make concerning a
toaster?

5. What makes an electric toaster a practical tool for people on the go?

6. State your opinion of the article using any of this week's vocabulary
words.

138
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 3 Chapter 15
Authentic - real, genuine
I am impressed by people who have an authentic faith in God.

Do you think that if you only pay $50 for a ROLEX watch it could
be authentic?

Characteristic- usual, normally expected

Drinking lots of hot tea is characteristic behavior for an
Englishman.

Is there a certain behavior that is characteristic of your family?

Concept - an idea
My children do not seem to have the concept of punctuality.

Is there a concept that you have difficulty understanding?

Confront - to face or to stand up to

I do not enjoy having to confront my son over a bad habit.

How do you confront difficulties in your life?

Disrupt - to upset
Loud snoring tends to disrupt the class lesson.

Do you think it would ever be appropriate to disrupt a meeting?

139
Fill in the Blank:

1. The minister decided to ____________the deacon over the

missing offering.
2. Profanity-laced lyrics are a ________________of the musical
genre known as rap.
3. A friend gave me his ________________Louis Vuitton bag.
4. The heckler was removed after he was able to ___________the
political rally.
5. I don't think you understand the _______________of perimeter.

Fill in the Blank:

1. The minister decided to ____________the deacon over the

missing offering.
2. Profanity-laced lyrics are a ________________of the musical
genre known as rap.
3. A friend gave me his ________________Louis Vuitton bag.
4. The heckler was removed after he was able to ___________the
politcal rally.
5. I don't think you understand the _______________of perimeter.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“A Smart Shopper” – page 39– Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

140
 Read and Respond: A Smart Shopper
Page 39 Timed Readings Book Three

1. What are some of the characteristics of a smaller store?

2. How would you confront the problem of rising food prices?

3. How would you explain the concept of making good

nutritious food choices?

4. Does grocery shopping tend to disrupt your schedule?

5. Would you describe anyone you know as an authentic smart

shopper'?

141
Unit 3 Chapter 15 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Eligible - qualified
Unfortunately, I was not eligible for compensation.

Are you eligible to be President of the United States?

Harsh - rough in speech or action

I came under harsh criticism for my actions.

Do you believe prison is harsh punishment for most drug offences?

Remote - distant
I love to walk to a remote location for some peace and quiet.

What is the most remote place that you have travelled to?

Shallow - not deep

At first I barely ventured out of the shallow end of the pool.

Have you ever described someone you know as being shallow?

Thrive - to do very well, as in growing

I think it is possible to thrive in Mississippi.

Do you thrive under pressure?

142
Fill in the blank:

1. The Gardenia bush should ___________in this climate.

2. Thank goodness the baby fell in the ___________end of the pool.

3. The letter informed the student that he was _______________for

financial aid.

4. The farmer made preparations to endure the _____________winter.

5. The helicopter aided the search for the climber lost in a _________area.

Fill in the blank:

1. The Gardenia bush should ___________in this climate.

2. Thank goodness the baby fell in the ___________end of the pool.

3. The letter informed the student that he was _______________for

financial aid.

4. The farmer made preparations to endure the _____________winter.

5. The helicopter aided the search for the climber lost in a _________area.

143
Yes/No/ Why: Day 2 or 3

Do you think that hospitality is an authentic characteristic of the South?

Is the concept of being eligible for college entrance appealing to you?

Should you confront people who disrupt class?

Could you thrive in a remote area?

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“The Caste System of India” – page 25– Timed Reading in Social Studies
book four
See handout for questions.

144
 Read and Respond: “The Caste System of India”
Page 25 Timed Readings Social Studies Book Four

1. Why would it be almost impossible for the untouchables caste to

thrive in India?

2. What could members of the top three castes be eligible to ask of the
other castes?

3. Which levels or castes in Indian society would live in harsh

environments?

4. Who might be forced to live in remote areas?

5. In what way would it be hard to descibe Indian society as shallow?

6. State your opinion of the article using any of this week's vocabulary
words.

145
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 4 Chapter 16
Apparent - clear
It became apparent that I was the only minister not wearing a suit.

Is it apparent to others that you are serious about getting a GED?

How so?

Automatic- self-operating
Someone needs to invent automatic wipers for glasses.

When someone asks a times table question, is your answer

automatic? Why or Why not?

Burden - a heavy load

Trying to take my family out to eat can be a financial burden.

Is it a burden for you to attend school? Why?

Economical - Money-saving
I am trying to be economical in my grocery shopping.

Have you tried to be economical in driving a car? In what ways?

Extravagant - spending too much

A friend made an extravagant gesture.

Have you ever had to explain an extravagant purchase? What did

you say?

146
Fill in the Blank:

1. The wife told her husband that buying the motor boat would be
_______________.
2. My mother really appreciates her ___________dishwasher.
3. A camel is a very well-known beast of ____________.
4. It became_____________that the traveler had lost his way.
5. Buying food in bulk is considered ______________shopping.

Fill in the Blank:

1. The wife told her husband that buying the motor boat would be
_______________.
2. My mother really appreciates her ___________dishwasher.
3. A camel is a very well-known beast of ____________.
4. It became_____________that the traveler had lost his way.
5. Buying food in bulk is considered ______________shopping.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Best buy for your money” – page 65– Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

147
 Read and Respond: Best Buy for Your Money
p. 65 – Timed Reading Book 3

1. Why are ready-to-serve cereals probably not an economical

choice?

2. Why might it not be apparent which bread is more nutritious?

3. Why might comparing prices help relieve financial burden?

4. Why are breakfast cereals an automatic choice for many

Americans?

5. What would be an extravagant food choice?

148
Unit 4 Chapter 16 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
fulfill-to carry out; achieve; do
I try to fulfill my obligations. If I say I will do something, I always
try my best at doing it. I carry out what I commit to do.
What one dream do you hope to fulfill? Why?

Influence-to have an effect on

I have an influence on my daughters. The way I live my life and
the things I teach them has an effect on them.
Who do you influence, and how do you influence them?

Security-protection; freedom from danger, fear, or worry

We have a security system at our house. It makes me feel better to
know that my children have some protection.
What security measures do you have in place for your family?

Sympathize-to feel or express sorrow or pity for

To show we sympathize with someone when they lose a loved one,
we send a card or flowers to the family.
What are ways you show friends that you sympathize with them
when things are difficult in their lives?

Transfer-to move or send from one place to another

Before I can put the new tables into the classroom, I have to
transfer the old ones to another room.
Have you ever been transferred? Tell about it.

149
Fill in the blank:

1. In January, the Air Force will_________________ my nephew from the

base in North Carolina to one in Virginia.

2. My parents think my friends_____________________ me too much.

3. The whole town _____________________ed with the family whose

house burned down.

4. Sarah told her mother she would stay in college for two years. She plans
to _____________ that promise.

5. People with homes near the river like having the _____________ of
flood insurance.

Fill in the blank:

1. In January, the Air Force will_________________ my nephew from the

base in North Carolina to one in Virginia.

2. My parents think my friends_____________________ me too much.

3. The whole town _____________________ed with the family whose

house burned down.

4. Sarah told her mother she would stay in college for two years. She plans
to _____________ that promise.

5. People with homes near the river like having the _____________ of
flood insurance.

150
Yes/No/ Why:

Is it apparent when people sympathize with others?

Is it a burden to fulfill commitments?
Do you automatically influence others?

Read & Respond Activity:

Page 23 – Timed Readings Book 4 (7th reading level)
What is Black Lung?

151
 Read and Respond: “What is Black Lung?”
P. 23 – Timed Readings Book 4

1. What security measures are put into place so the coal miners are safe
as they work?

2. How is the dust transferred to another place so the men do not breathe
it?

3. What influenced changes in the mining business to protect the miners?

4. How do the changes help the coal miners fulfill their jobs?

5. Does this information help you to sympathize with coal miners? In

what ways or Why?

152
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 4 Chapter 17

bewilder - to puzzle
I was bewildered at first by the one-way traffic system in
downtown Jackson.
Have you ever been bewildered by someone's behavior? Why?

Communicate - to exchange information

It is important to communicate clearly when making a 911 call .

What are some of the ways you choose to communicate with other
people?

Deceive - to fool or trick.

I really resent telemarketers who attempt to deceive me into making
rash decisions.
Is it ever appropriate to deceive a friend?

Earnest - serious
I am earnest in my desire to be a lifelong learner.

What is the one goal that you are earnest about accomplishing ?

Emotion - feeling
My father rarely showed emotion - except when he was angry.

Have you ever let your emotions get the better of you? Why?

153
Fill in the Blank:

1. The large school_________(ed) Sarah at first, but then she grew

used to it.
2. Jealousy is a very destructive___________.
3. Married couples have to find healthy ways to
_______________.
4. Jimmy seemed ___________when he said he would mow the
yard, but now the grass is two feet tall!
5. The used car salesman was able to ___________ the first-time
car buyer.

Fill in the Blank:

1. The large school_________(ed) Sarah at first, but then she grew

used to it.
2. Jealousy is a very destructive___________.
3. Married couples have to find healthy ways to
_______________.
4. Jimmy seemed ___________when he said he would mow the
yard, but now the grass is two feet tall!
5. The used car salesman was able to ___________ the first-time
car buyer.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“A Friend in Need” – page 53– Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

154
Read and Respond: A Friend in Need

1. Why might you be bewildered by a drug abuser’s behavior?

2. Why might it be helpful to communicate with someone about

a personal drug problem?

3. Who would be more likely to deceive - a drug abuser or a

drug counselor?

4. If a friend was earnest about quitting drug use, how would

you advise them?

5. What emotion might you have upon discovering a friend

was using drugs.

155
Unit 4 Chapter 17 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Fiction - made-up writing or words
I happen to think that stories about Bigfoot are pure fiction.

Who is your favorite fictional character?

Investigate - to look into

I decided to investigate the claims of various religious beliefs.

Is it right to investigate someone's private life?

Legible - easy to read

I have always had more legible handwriting than my twin brother.

Why might it be important to be legible when filling out a form?

Outspoken - Open and truthful

I have been accused of being outspoken on the issue of racial
reconciliation.
Is being outspoken a good quality in a presidential candidate?
Why?

Theory - a possible explanation for something

I have a theory as to why certain diseases occur more frequently
here in the South .

What can help turn a theory into a fact?

156
Fill in the blank:

1. The detective was called to the scene to _______________the horrific

crime.

2. I have never entirely accepted the _____________of evolution.

3. "War and Peace" is considered one of the world's greatest works of

__________.

4. Cesar Chavez was ________________in defense of migrant farm

workers.

5. Very few doctors have handwriting that is _______________.

Fill in the blank:

1. The detective was called to the scene to _______________the horrific

crime.

2. I have never entirely accepted the _____________of evolution.

3. "War and Peace" is considered one of the world's greatest works of

__________.

4. Cesar Chavez was ________________in defense of migrant farm

workers.

5. Very few doctors have handwriting that is _______________.

157
Yes/No/ Why: Day 2 or 3

Do emotions bewilder you?

Could you deceive the one person who knows you better than
anybody when communicating with them?

Would you ever be outspoken in church if you were earnest about

something?

Is it fiction to communicate by thought alone?

Would you investigate a theory?

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Brush It Away” – page 103– Timed Reading in Social Studies
book four
See handout for questions.

158
 Read and Respond: “Brush It Away”
P. 103 Timed Reading in Social Studies 4

1. What would make the presence of plaque on your teeth legible?

2. What is the theory behind the use of dental floss?

3. What are ways you might investigate whether you suffer from tooth
decay?

4. Why might a dentist be outspoken about a worn out toothbrush?

5. Why might the notion of brushless teeth cleaning be described as

fiction by most dentists?

6. State your opinion of the article using any of this week's vocabulary
words.

159
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 4 Chapter 18
Assure – to promise
I can assure you that learning new vocabulary will help your reading.

Can you assure me that you are giving your best effort? What proves
it?

Crucial - necessary
Preparation is a crucial part of doing my job well.

How crucial is it that you succeed in getting your education?

Divert – to move away or change direction

Because of the Democratic Convention, traffic will have to be
diverted in Denver.
What would divert your attention when driving a car?

Extraordinary – very unusual, over and above

The doctors took extraordinary measures to try to save my father's
life.
What has been the most extraordinary event of your lifetime?

Frantic – excited and nervous

I was frantic when looking for my young son who had gone missing
in the shopping mall.
What circumstance would cause you to be frantic?

160
Fill in the Blank:

1. When the child failed to answer, the mother became_______.

2. The candidate __________ed his supporters he would lower
taxes.
3. Michael Phelps' eight gold medals are an______________
achievement.
4. Reading is a _____________part of the GED.
5. The plane was __________ed because of bad weather.

Fill in the Blank:

1. When the child failed to answer, the mother became_______.

2. The candidate __________ed his supporters he would lower
taxes.
3. Michael Phelps' eight gold medals are an_______________
achievement.
4. Reading is a _____________part of the GED.
5. The plane was __________ed because of bad weather.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Think About It” – page 31– Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

161
 Read and Respond: Think About It
P. 31-Timed Readings Book 3

1. How could you assure your family members that there will be
an escape route in case of fire?

2. What piece of information would be crucial to know if you

lived in an apartment building?

3. What extraordinary measures might you take to escape

from the second floor of a house?

4. Why would being frantic during a fire not be a wise

response?

5. Why might you divert someone from opening a hallway

door during a fire?

162
 Unit 4 Chapter 18 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Hostile - unfriendly
Some people think that the jail is a hostile environment.

Is there any situation where being hostile would be considered

normal?

Humiliate – to shame
I was humiliated when I lost my voice.

Have you ever had to overcome being humiliated?

Impulse – an unplanned desire

I very often buy music on impulse.

Would you be described as an impulse shopper?

Perceive – to notice
I perceived that my wife seemed upset.

How would you perceive that you were making progress in your
studies?

Revive – to bring back to life

Every year I revive my hopes that this will be the year the Bengals
make it to the Superbowl.

What aspect of your life would you like to revive?

163
Fill in the blank:

1. Ryan resisted the _______________to punch Alex in the nose.

2. The prank was designed to _________________the teacher.

3. When she smiled at him, it __________ed the hope, that she had finally
forgiven him for standing her up.

4. The detective _______________ed that the suspect was not telling the
truth.

5. The seminar was on how to handle a ___________work environment.

Fill in the blank:

1. Ryan resisted the _______________to punch Alex in the nose.

2. The prank was designed to _________________the teacher.

3. When she smiled at him, it __________ed the hope, that she had finally
forgiven him for standing her up.

4. The detective _______________ed that the suspect was not telling the
truth.

5. The seminar was on how to handle a ___________work environment.

164
Yes/No/ Why: Day 2 or 3

Can hostile people humiliate you?

Can buying on impulse be frantic?

Can you assure someone that something is extraordinary?

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Think Before You Throw” – page 85 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

165
 Read and Respond: “Think Before Your Throw”
p. 85-Timed Readings Book 3

1. What object that represented the United States, decorated the theater
box?

2. What outcome caused John Wilkes Booth to feel he had triumphed?

3. What injury proved no more than a temporary inconvenience to Mr.

Booth?

4. What attitude that Booth had towards Lincoln appears transparent in

this story?

5. State your opinion of the article using any of this week's vocabulary
words.

166
WORDWORK Vocabulary Sheet

Who might need to divert traffic?

(a) an anti-war protester

(b) a policeman

(c ) a member of a softball team

WHY?

Who might need to perform extraordinary feats?

(a) a Olympic athlete

(b) an american soldier

(c ) a magician

WHY?

Who might need to assure someone that they can be trusted?

(a) a teacher

(b) a politician

(c ) a preacher

WHY?

167
 If you were a first time voter, which piece(s) of information would
be crucial to know?

(a) the names of the political candidates

(b) what the candidates stand for

(c ) the location of my nearest polling station

(d) all of the above

WHY?

Which situation might make you frantic?

(a) boiling an egg

(b) losing your purse or billfold

(c ) babysitting someone else's child

(d) singing in front of millions of people

WHY?

BONUS:

Write a sentence that combines at least two of this week's words.

_____________________________________________________________

168
 FILM TITLES

CRUCIAL!

FRANTIC!

HOSTILE!

IMPULSE!

REVIVE!

DIVERT!

Write an idea for a film screenplay based on one of these

vocabulary words.

169
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 4 Chapter 19
Abandon - to quit, to give up by leaving or ceasing
Due to mechanical failure, NASA abandoned their space mission.
Would you ever consider abandoning your education? Why?

Alert - fully awake

The next thing I remember was a paramedic checking to see if I
was alert.
Have you ever struggled to remain alert in class? Why?

Circumstances - details surrounding an event.

I remember the circumstances surrounding the incident when I
broke my front teeth.
What were the circumstances that led to your being enrolled in a
GED class? What were they?

Devote - to give attention to, to set apart

I devote some time to coaching soccer.

Are you devoting enough time to reaching your educational goals?

Why do you think so?

Dominate - to control with superior power

The USA basketball team dominated the Olympic competition.

Is there an area of your life that you would like to dominate?

170
Fill in the Blank:

1. The ____________were such that Jared had no choice but to

leave.
2. He very much regretted having to _____________his family.
3. Faced with a long drive ahead, the young man drank coffee in
order to remain _________.
4. Images of home and family seemed to ____________his every-
waking moment.
5. Jared knew he must ___________his life to restoring what had
been lost.

Fill in the Blank:

1. The ____________were such that Jared had no choice but to

leave.
2. He very much regretted having to _____________his family.
3. Faced with a long drive ahead, the young man drank coffee in
order to remain _________.
4. Images of home and family seemed to ____________his every-
waking moment.
5. Jared knew he must ___________his life to restoring what had
been lost.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Diego Rivera - Murals of the Great Depression” – page 65– Timed
Readings Plus in Social Studies
See handout for questions.

171
Read and Respond: Diego Rivera - Murals of the Great
Depression

1. Why did Diego Rivera not abandon his belief in Communism

when he entered the United States?

2. What period of our history alerted us to the plight of

workers?

3. Which themes seemed to dominate the art of Diego Rivera?

4. What circumstances led to the Rockefellers destroying one

of Diego's murals?

5. What important theme was Diego Rivera devoted to in his

art?

172
Unit 4 Chapter 19 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Function - purpose
To teach reading skills is my main function in this class.

What is your function in this class?

Idle - not busy

I do not seem to have much idle time anymore.

Do you think everyone should be able to be idle once in a while ?

Overcome - to beat, to conquer

I had to overcome my fear of public speaking.

What is the greatest challenge you've had to overcome?

Primary - main, most important, first thing

My primary interest in life has been music.

What is your primary purpose for being here?

Theme - an idea that encompasses the whole

I enjoy listening to CD's that have a central theme to all the songs.

If you were running for President, what would be the theme of

your campaign?

173
Fill in the blank:

1. The waiter's ________________was to take the food orders and then

serve the meal.

2. Many films today seem to be filled with ___________(s) of violence.

3. A person with a learning disability has to ______________ a great

challenge.

4. The ______________objective of the game of soccer is to score goals.

5. My mother used to say, "__________hands are the devil's playground."

Fill in the blank:

1. The waiter's ________________was to take the food orders and then

serve the meal.

2. Many films today seem to be filled with ___________(s) of violence.

3. A person with a learning disability has to ______________ a great

challenge.

4. The ______________objective of the game of soccer is to score goals.

5. My mother used to say, "__________hands are the devil's playground."

174
Yes/No/ Why: Day 2 or 3

Is it possible to devote yourself to being idle?

Do you always have to dominate in order to overcome?

Would you ever abandon your primary goal due to circumstances?

Should being entertaining be a function of your teacher?

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Busy Little Creatures” – page 113– Timed Readings book three
See handout for questions.

175
 Read and Respond: “Busy Little Creatures”
P. 113 – Timed Readings Book 3

1. What are some ways you could overcome termites?

2. What would be the primary evidence that termites are in your house?

3. How is it that just because you can't see signs of damage, termites
might not have been idle?

4. What is the function of a pest control company?

5. What is the theme of "Busy Little Creatures"?

6. State your opinion of the article using any of this week's vocabulary
words.

176
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 4 Chapter 20

Disregard - to ignore, to choose not to see

With complete disregard for his own safety, the man dove into the
water to save the drowning boy.
Is it wise to disregard road signs? Why?

Excerpt - part of a whole work

I love to read excerpts from famous literature.

Do you often choose to watch a movie after seeing an excerpt?

Exclude - to keep or leave out.

If you arrive late there is a chance I will exclude you from my class.

How do you feel when your friends exclude you?

Hinder - to get in the way of or to hold back

My children often hinder me getting to work on time.

What most seems to hinder your educational progress?

Misleading - giving the wrong idea

Sometimes news reporting can be misleading.

Have you ever received a misleading message?

177
Fill in the Blank:

1. The man was instructed not to ___________the investigation.

2. The orchestra played an ______________from Beethoven's
Fifth symphony.
3. The advertisement was somewhat __________________as to
the product's effectiveness.
4. The boss told his workers to ___________the latest memo.
5. Jenny chose to ___________certain people from her party list.

Fill in the Blank:

1. The man was instructed not to ___________the investigation.

2. The orchestra played an ______________from Beethoven's
Fifth symphony.
3. The advertisement was somewhat __________________as to
the product's effectiveness.
4. The boss told his workers to ___________the latest memo.
5. Jenny chose to ___________certain people from her party list.
Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Glancing at Glaciers” – page 33– Timed Readings Book Three
See handout for questions.

178
 Read and Respond: Glancing at Glaciers
p. 33-Timed Readings Book 3

1. What fraction of the earth's water would be left if you were to

exclude the water stored as glacier ice?

2. Why should you disregard the opinion of someone who

thinks that glaciers are rare?

3. How might your first hand experience of glaciers be

hindered?

4. What is misleading about the statement that glaciers are

mostly in mountains not far from big cities?

5. Which excerpt sums up the main idea of the piece

"Glancing at Glaciers"?

179
Unit 4 Chapter 20 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Monotonous - dull, unchanging
I never want to have a monotonous job again.

What activity do you find monotonous?

Obtain - to get
I was surprised when my son obtained a labrador puppy.

How do plan to obtain your GED?

Prey - those that are hunted

Cat’s prey includes mice. I like to have a cat around my house to
keep mice away.

Would you enjoy following your prey (a deer) then shooting it?
Why or why not?

Seize - to grab
I get mad when someone else seizes the last slice of pizza.

Describe the last time you seized an opportunity?

Severe - dangerous, forceful

When severe weather is around, it is best to seek shelter.

Would you describe any pressure you feel as severe?

180
Fill in the blank:

1. "Carpe Diem" is a Latin phrase meaning "__________the day".

2. The goal of many here is to _________their GED.

3. The keynote Speaker's speech was extremely _________________.

4. The judge recommended a severe punishment for a first-time offence.

5. Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed were the ______ of the paparazzi.

Fill in the blank:

1. "Carpe Diem" is a Latin phrase meaning "__________the day".

2. The goal of many here is to _________their GED.

3. The keynote Speaker's speech was extremely _________________.

4. The judge recommended a severe punishment for a first-time offence.

5. Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed were the ______ of the paparazzi.

181
Yes/No/ Why: Day 2 or 3

Is it misleading to only read an excerpt?

If you hinder someone from entering a building have you excluded them as
well?

Should you disregard a monotonous speech?

Do animals always have to seize an animal to obtain their prey?

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“To Your Health” – page 99– Timed Readings book three
See handout for questions.

182
 Read and Respond: “To Your Health”
p. 99-Timed Reading Book 3

1. Why is it not wise to have a monotonous diet?

2. What are the best ways to obtain protein?

3. What might you experience if you had a severe lack of carbohydrates

in your diet?

4. What would an animal want to receive from eating its prey?

5. If no meat was available, what food could you seize that would also
provide protein?

6. State your opinion of the article using any of this week's vocabulary
words.

183
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 5 Chapter 21

Conflict – a quarrel, fight or disagreement

I think it's important to deal with conflicts in a marriage.

How would you handle a conflict with a fellow student?

Convert - to change completely or transform.

When I travel overseas I have to convert my dollars into another
currency.

Have you ever tried to convert someone to your point of view?

Possess – to own, to have

I possess an extensive collection of music on CD.

Are there some items which it would not be wise to possess?

Procedure – The steps or method by which something is done.

There is a lengthy procedure involved in replacing my passport.

What procedure would you use to obtain a Mississippi Driver’s

License?

Renew - to fill up, build up or start again

After working out, I try to renew my energy with a healthy meal
and plenty of liquid.
Have you ever tried to renew an old friendship?

184
Fill in the Blank:

1. On the occasion of their silver wedding anniversary, my friends decided to

__________their wedding vows.

2. Do you _____________a valid form of identification?

3. My boss explained the ______________for filling out the order form.

4. The counselor tried to resolve the ____________.

5. Before they could get married, she had to __________to his religion.

Fill in the Blank:

1. On the occasion of their silver wedding anniversary, my friends decided to

__________their wedding vows.

2. Do you _____________a valid form of identification?

3. My boss explained the ______________for filling out the order form.

4. The counselor tried to resolve the ____________.

5. Before they could get married, she had to __________to his religion.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“The Pathfinder” – page 21– Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

185
 Read and Respond: The Pathfinder
p. 21 – Timed Readings Book 3

1. What circumstances might complicate a simple walk in a

forest?

2. In what ways is an experienced woodsman able to detect his

position?

3. How would you counsel a young person about to take a

hike in unfamiliar surroundings?

4. Are there any artificial means by which a hiker could find

his way out of a forest?

5. Would your conscience allow you to wait a certain length

of time before starting to search for a missing hiker?

186
Unit 5 Chapter 21 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Resources - Wealth, natural supplies and labor force
Mississippi is a state rich in timber resources.

What resources do you have at your disposal?

Stress – pressure, mental or emotional strain

I listen to music or watch a funny movie to relieve stress.

Do you feel stress when you are taking a test? What do you do
about it?

Unanimous – showing full agreement

We are unanimous in our opposition to gambling.

Why is the voting for the next president unlikely to be

unanimous?

Vary – to experience change, to become different

I like to vary my workout so that I don't become bored.

Do you think we need to vary our classes?

Vicinity – the area near or around a place

We live in the vicinity of a number of churches.

Would you approve of having a bar or club in the vicinity of your

house?

187
Fill in the blank:

1. The police said there had been a number of robberies in our

____________.

2. The vote to build the Recreation Center was _________________ .

3. The program had to close its doors due to the lack of _____________.

4. It is always good to _________your diet so you can remain healthy.

5. Bill resigned from his job as coordinator due to the ________caused by

budget cuts.

Fill in the blank:

1. The police said there had been a number of robberies in our

____________.

2. The vote to build the Recreation Center was _________________ .

3. The program had to close its doors due to the lack of _____________.

4. It is always good to _________your diet so you can remain healthy.

5. Bill resigned from his job as coordinator due to the ________caused by

budget cuts.

188
Yes/No/ Why: Day 2 or 3

Do you think that there is a conflict when the verdict in a court case has to
be unanimous?

Do you think we should vary our driving habits by converting our cars to
alternative fuels like compressed natural gas or hydrogen cells?

Do you think there is a conflict over the proper use of natural resources?

Would you feel stress if there was a procedure for renewing your license
from the vicinity of your own home?

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“An Unexpected Drama” – page 95 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

189
 Read and Respond: “An Unexpected Drama”
P. 95 – Timed Readings Book 3

1. Why do you think it probable that John Wilkes Booth used a gun with
frequency?

2. What object that represented the United States, decorated the theater
box?

3. What outcome caused John Wilkes Booth to feel he had triumphed?

4. What injury proved no more than a temporary inconvenience to Mr.

Booth?

5. What attitude that Booth had towards Lincoln appears transparent in

this story?

6. State your opinion of the article using any of this week's vocabulary
words.

190
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 5 Chapter 22

Abolish – to get rid of

William Wilberforce worked hard to abolish slavery

What rule or law would you like to abolish?

Corrupt – not honest.

The witness could not be trusted because he was corrupt.

Would you ever vote for a corrupt politician?

Decay – to rot
Leaves fall from the trees, decay, and then become part of the soil.

What substances might cause your teeth to decay?

Expand – To grow in size or amount.

I continue to expand my music collection.

What area of life would you like to expand?

Nevertheless – in spite of that

I have not always been successful in helping people, nevertheless I
continue to try.

Use “nevertheless” in a sentence

191
Fill in the Blank:

1. I did not support this candidate before the election,____________

I shall support them now.

2. The dentist said that eating too much candy would ________my teeth.

3. I don't think the government will ever __________income tax.

4. I would like to ____________my knowledge of World Geography.

5. When he accepted the bribe, he showed how __________he was.

Fill in the Blank:

1. I did not support this candidate before the election,____________

I shall support them now.

2. The dentist said that eating too much candy would ________my teeth.

3. I don't think the government will ever __________income tax.

4. I would like to ____________my knowledge of World Geography.

5. When he accepted the bribe, he showed how __________he was.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Think Before You Throw” Page 85 – Timed Reading book three
See handout for questions.

192
 Read and Respond: Think Before You Throw
P. 85 – Timed Readings Book 3

1. Why do you think that the amount of packaging waste

continues to expand?

2. Which types of packaging would be unlikely to decay?

3. If you had the power to abolish a type of packaging, in

order to save money or reduce waste, which would it be and
why?

4. Why might a corrupt politician favor a tougher anti-

littering law?

5. Potato chips are cheaper in the bag; nevertheless, some

people will still buy them in a box or a can. Why?

193
 Unit 5 Chapter 22 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Precise - exact
When working out math problems, it is important to be precise.

How precise should you be in figuring out your monthly bills?

Why?

Promote – to raise in position or rank, to contribute to the

growth or success of something
I have tried to promote an interest in playing soccer.

Do you think it is right or wrong to promote the lowering of the

legal drinking age? Why?

Reform – to make better

I hope that attending church services while in jail might help
reform some people.

If you could reform one aspect of your life what would it be?

Tendency – an inclination to think, act or behave in a certain

way.
I have a tendency to waste too much time listening to music.

What is your worst tendency?

Vast – very big, huge

I have a vast knowledge of modern music.

Would you be able to handle vast wealth?

194
Fill in the blank:

1. The pro athlete came to the school to __________________ physical

fitness.

2. The part had to be manufactured with ________________measurements.

3. Fishermen have a ________________to tell stories about 'the one who got
away'..

4. The Grand Canyon is an example of a _____________natural wonder.

5. The President had hoped to _____________Social Security.

Fill in the blank:

1. The pro athlete came to the school to __________________ physical

fitness.
2. The part had to be manufactured with ________________measurements.

3. Fishermen have a ________________to tell stories about 'the one who got
away'..

4. The Grand Canyon is an example of a _____________natural wonder.

5. The President had hoped to _____________Social Security.

195
Yes/No/ Why: Day 2 or 3

Does food left too long in a refrigerator have a tendency to decay?

Would you promote the reform of a corrupt government?

Should we abolish the precise measurement of time?

Should we expand an already vast social security and Medicare

system to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare and
retirement income?

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Whitney's Cotton Gin” – page 49 – Timed Readings Plus book
three

196
 Read and Respond: “Whitney's Cotton Gin”
P. 49 – Timed Readings Plus Book 3

1. What tendency did Eli Whitney demonstrate at an early age?

2. How did Mrs. Greene seek to promote Eli Whitney?

3. What was the precise problem that plantation owners needed Eli
Whitney to solve?

4. How did the invention of the cotton gin reform the production of
cotton in the South?

5. What were the main improvements that led the production of cotton
becoming such a vast industry?

6. State your opinion of the article using any of last week's vocabulary
words.

197
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 5 Chapter 23

Assert - to state strongly

When I preach, I assert that what the Bible says is true.

How would you assert your right to be treated fairly?

Clarify – to explain or make clear

I feel my job is to clarify difficult concepts.

What subject or area would you like someone to clarify?

Evade – to get away from

I try to evade doing yard work.

What area of responsibility have you tried to evade?

Extend – to make longer or later.

I would love to extend my vacation time.

What would happen if you could extend the deadline for paying
bills?

Negligent – paying too little attention to

I have been negligent in keeping my classroom tidy.

What would you do if your friend was a negligent driver?

198
Fill in the blank:

1. The city council voted to ______________the curfew until 1:00 am on the

weekend.

2. The shy man was encouraged to ______________himself at work.

3. The tobacco company was found to be __________________in the cancer

death of Mrs. Buenavista

4. By hiding in the grain elevator, Manuel managed to _________capture.

5. The concerned citizen wrote to the editor in an attempt to

______________his position on underage drinking.

Fill in the blank:

1. The city council voted to ______________the curfew until 1:00 am on the

weekend.

2. The shy man was encouraged to ______________himself at work.

3. The tobacco company was found to be __________________in the cancer

death of Mrs Buenavista

4. By hiding in the grain elevator, Manuel managed to _________capture.

5. The concerned citizen wrote to the editor in an attempt to

______________his position on underage drinking.

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Try jogging for fitness” – page 77 – Timed Readings Plus book three

199
 Read and Respond: “Try Jogging for Fitness”
P. 77 – Timed Readings Plus Book 3

1. Why does the article assert that jogging is popular?

2. What information might you want to clarify for those who desire to jog
in the winter?

3. What advice does the article give for those who want to extend the
distance that they jog?

4. Why might wearing sneakers when jogging be thought of as negligent

by doctors ?

5. Why might an overweight person try to evade an exercise like jogging?

YES/NO/WHY

If you evade taking a precaution could you be considered negligent?

If you clarify the argument you assert, would the hearer remain rigid?

200
 Unit 5 Chapter 23 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Precaution - a step taken to be safe, something done in
advance to avoid a problem
As a precaution, I always lock my car when I go to work.

What precaution would you take to prevent being hurt in a car

accident?

Preconception – an opinion formed before having enough

information or experience

I had a preconception about Square dancing but in fact I really

enjoyed myself.

What preconception about school have we been able to alter?

Resemble – to look the same as

People have said that I resemble one of the Beatles.

What famous person do you resemble?

Rigid – not bending, stiff

My father's rules were very rigid.

Do you think we should be rigid with regard to our dress code?

Vertical – up-and-down, upright

From the Golden Gate bridge is quite a vertical drop into the cold
waters below.

What would a person's vertical jump need to be in order to dunk a

basketball?

201
Fill in the blank:

1. The body was quite _________ by the time the emergency

crews arrived.

2. This was Roger's first blind date, so he took the

___________of writing some witty one-liners on his shirt
sleeve.

3. Susan was sure she had seen a man who ____________(d)

the person featured on “America's Most Wanted.”

4. The Space Shuttle was standing in a ____________ manner

on the launch pad.

5. If you lay aside your _________________(s) you might find

you will enjoy a night at the Opera.

Fill in the blank:

1. The body was quite _________ by the time the emergency

crews arrived.

2. This was Roger's first blind date, so he took the

___________of writing some witty one-liners on his shirt
sleeve.

3. Susan was sure she had seen a man who ____________(d)

the person featured on “America's Most Wanted.”

4. The Space Shuttle was standing in a ____________ manner

on the launch pad.

5. If you lay aside your _________________(s) you might find

you will enjoy a night at the Opera.

202
 Read and Respond: “Bridging the Gap”
p. 67 - Timed Readings Book Three

1. What addition to the famous London bridge would suggest that it was
a rigid structure?

2. What shape does a cantilever bridge resemble?

3. What might you decide to do as a precaution before crossing a

swaying bridge?

4. What preconception might have prevented engineers proceeding with

the construction of a suspension bridge?

5. Why might the vertical drop affect your decision to cross a bridge?

6. Why might the builders of the early suspension bridges be considered

negligent?

203
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 5 Chapter 24

Anxious -Worried Troubled Fearful about what might happen

When I heard the news about the accident, I was anxious about
what I might find.

What is one situation which might cause you to feel anxious?

Comprehend – to understand completely

I don't always comprehend what my friend from India is saying.

What subject or area do you find difficult to comprehend?

Convince – to persuade by argument or proof

The lawyer tried to convince the jury of his client's innocence.

Have you ever tried to convince someone to stop doing something

harmful?

Dramatic – Having very exciting, interesting qualities,

striking, very noticeable.
I noticed a dramatic difference in the quality of his basketball
skills.

What would make the most dramatic difference in your everyday

life?

Frank – Honest and open, sincere

I had to be frank about his behavior.

Could you be frank if your best friend had offended you?

204
Fill in the blank:

1. To be ________, I don't think we can afford to buy a new car at this time.

2. The foreign exchange student found it hard to _____________ what her

host parents were saying.

3. I tried to ________________my friend to stay the night, as the roads were

icy and they were calling for snow.

4. I enjoy movies that have a ________________ending that leaves you on

the edge of your seat.

5. I became _____________when the plane dipped sharply, and the oxygen

masks appeared.

Fill in the blank:

1. To be ________, I don't think we can afford to buy a new car at this time.

2. The foreign exchange student found it hard to _____________ what her

host parents were saying.

3. I tried to ________________my friend to stay the night, as the roads were

icy and they were calling for snow.

4. I enjoy movies that have a ________________ending that leaves you on

the edge of your seat.

5. I became _____________when the plane dipped sharply, and the oxygen

masks appeared.

205
 Read and Respond: “Achilles”
P. 81 – Timed Readings Plus Book 3

1. Why was Achilles' mother anxious at the start of the Trojan War?

2. Why might Thetis be convinced that no weapon could ever harm her
son, Achilles?

3. Why would Achilles' reaction to the trumpet blast appear dramatic?

4. What do you comprehend as the meaning of the expression “Achilles'

heel”?

5. What in Achilles' reaction to Agamemnon's treatment of a captive that

he loved revealed he was less than frank?

206
 Unit 5 Chapter 24 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Illustrate - to explain or make clear by using an example,
picture, or demonstration
I often use examples from my experience to illustrate what I say.

How would you illustrate how to change a flat tire?

Impression – a belief, opinion, or feeling based on little

information.
My first impression of people is usually wrong.

How would you make a good impression at a job interview?

Inferior – lower in quality or value

The GED is certainly not an inferior qualification.

How might you decide that certain merchandise was inferior?

Overwhelm– to overpower, mentally, emotionally, or

physically
Sometimes I overwhelm my students with too much information.

Why might taking a GED test overwhelm you?

Thorough- Complete, very carefully done

The rescue team made a thorough search of the mountain.

When trying to answer math word problems, how thorough

should one be in reading the question?

207
Fill in the blank:

1. Most experts would agree that Shawn Bradley is an

____________________ basketball player to Michael Jordan.

2. The speaker used a chalk board to ________________his

talk.

3. The police made a ________________sweep of the crime

scene.

4. The Pittsburgh Steelers used a total team effort to

______________the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl.

5. With a disarming smile and sly sense of humor, Jared made

quite an_______________ on his hosts.

Fill in the blank:

1. Most experts would agree that Shawn Bradley is an

____________________ basketball player to Michael Jordan.

2. The speaker used a chalk board to ________________his

talk.

3. The police made a ________________sweep of the crime

scene.

4. The Pittsburgh Steelers used a total team effort to

______________the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl.

5. With a disarming smile and sly sense of humor, Jared made

quite an________________ on his hosts.

208
 Read and Respond: “Buying a Canary”
P. 111 - Timed Readings Book Three

1. What might give you the impression that your canary is a

female?

2. Why might caring for a canary overwhelm you?

3. In what ways should your care for the canary be thorough?

4. How might you illustrate the proper way to clean a canary's

cage?

5. Would you consider a canary an inferior type of bird?

6. How would you convince someone that having a canary was

a good idea?

209
 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Unit 5 Chapter 25

Acquire - To get through one's own actions, gain something

as one's own
I have acquired a strange accent as a result of living in different
places.

What is one object you would like to acquire?

Commitment – A promise to do something; a pledge

I made a commitment to coach my son's soccer team.

Who or what have you made a commitment to?

Formal – Proper; not casual, according to custom or tradition

My dress was formal for the court appearance two weeks ago.

Do you think a formal person would let their hair down?

Fragment – A small piece broken off something whole.

After the glass broke, I had to make sure I swept up all the
fragments.
What is something you would not want to see in fragments?

Fundamental – Basic; forming a foundation; essential

There are fundamental differences between Rugby and American
Football.

What would be one of the fundamental rules of life you live by?

210
Fill in the blank:

1. I made a lifelong ________________to my wife when I married her.

2. My son __________________(d)_a Labrador puppy to train for hunting.

3. The archeologist found a _________________of ancient pottery buried in

the cave.

4. The host gave a ________________introduction, and then we were able

to relax and enjoy the party.

5. Becoming a good reader is ___________________to being a successful

student.

Fill in the blank:

1. I made a lifelong ________________to my wife when I married her.

2. My son __________________(d)_a Labrador puppy to train for hunting.

3. The archeologist found a _________________of ancient pottery buried in

the cave.

4. The host gave a ________________introduction, and then we were able

to relax and enjoy the party.

5. Becoming a good reader is ___________________to being a successful

student.

211
 Read and Respond: “Early Olympics”
P. 21 – Timed Readings Plus Book 3

1. What formal action did the athletes take before the games began?

2. How would an athlete acquire an olive wreath?

3. Why might it have been better for Herodotus to read a fragment of his
History of the Persian Wars?

4. What was the fundamental reason the Greeks held games and athletic
contests?

5. What commitment did the city of Athens make to its athletic winners?

212
YES/NO/WHY

Would it be considered formal to symbolize a friendship by sending a

card?

Would you resent the fact that someone turned a valued object into
fragments in order to show spite?

Should true love precede the solemn commitment of marriage?

213
 Unit 5 Chapter 25 Groundwork for a Better Vocabulary
Precede - to come before
I have noticed that the weather report precedes the sports report
on most newscasts.

What should precede the obtaining of a GED?

Resent – to feel angered or injured by

I used to resent the fact that people used to refer to my brother and
I as “the twins”.

Do you resent being asked to read aloud in class?

Solemn – serious and respectful

Some people forget that a wedding is a solemn ceremony.

How solemn should we be during class?

Spite– An unfriendly feeling that causes one to want to hurt or

shame another.
Brothers and sisters sometimes deal with feelings of spite towards
one another.

How might you overcome a feeling of spite?

Symbolize- To stand for; be a symbol of; represent

The cross symbolizes the Christian Faith.

What does the American Flag symbolize for you?

214
Fill in the blank:

1. “You're a real loser,” said the girl with _________in her

voice.

2. People ____________having to pay more than their fair

share of taxes.

3. In some cultures a commitment to marry ___________(s)

the falling in love.

4. During World War II, holding up two fingers in a V sign

______________(d) victory.

5. I enjoy joking with my children, but occasionally I have to

become_______________.

Fill in the blank:

1. “You're a real loser,” said the girl with _________in her

voice.

2. People ____________having to pay more than their fair

share of taxes.

3. In some cultures a commitment to marry ___________(s)

the falling in love.

4. During World War II, holding up two fingers in a V sign

______________(d) victory.

5. I enjoy joking with my children, but occasionally I have to

become_______________.

215
 Read and Respond: “John Paul Jones”
P. 91 - Timed Readings Book Three

1. What might the words “I have not yet begun to fight”

symbolize?

2. Why would the mutinous sailor have reason to feel

spite towards John Paul Jones?

3. What outcome suggests that John Paul Jones did not

resent the fact he was blamed for the sailor's death?

4. When the American Revolution started, what solemn

action did Captain Jones take?

5. What event preceded John Paul Jones' famous retort?

216
 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Unit 6 Chapter 26
Associate – to spend time with; join; get together or connect
with
I associate the smell of certain substances with certain people. I
like to associate with different types of people.
What sights, sounds, or smells do you associate with happy
memories?

Barrier-something that blocks the way

Being late for work is a barrier to retaining employment. Every
family’s computer should have a barrier that blocks questionable
content.
What is your greatest barrier to success in your life?

Estimate-to make a guess at the size, amount , or value of

something
These days, it’s hard to estimate someone’s age. With knowledge
of percentages, you can estimate the price of sale items quickly.

How would you estimate the cost of driving to Chicago and back?

Fatigue-the state of being very tired

Before I took my vacation, I was suffering from fatigue. I’ve heard
that a full body massage is a great way to relieve fatigue.
How can you tell when you are experiencing fatigue?

Flimsy-light, thin, and lacking strength

In the path of the tornado even the most well constructed home
seemed flimsy. “The dog ate my homework” is a really flimsy
excuse.
Which everyday object would you describe as being flimsy? Why?

217
FILL IN THE BLANK

I asked the mechanic to ________________ how much it would cost to fix

my car.

It’s not smart to wear a _____________ pair of sneakers to play football in.

Learning the English language can seem like a giant _________________ to

many immigrants..

I told her not to _____________ with that group of people.

Trying to drive a thousand miles in one day is sure to cause

______________.

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE

If I could associate with one famous person it would be

_________________________.

The one thing that is a barrier to my completing my GED

is_______________.

I would estimate that I will get my GED by_________________.

I feel fatigue when ______________________.

The one thing that I own that I don’t want to be flimsy is___________.

218
READ AND RESPOND: "A Stitch in Time"

Timed Readings Book Three p. 79

1. What kind of household goods are associated now with the

word “linens”?

2. Which of the fibers mentioned in the article would you

describe as being the most flimsy?

3. When would you estimate that the rest of the world

overtook the U.S. in production of man-made fibers?

4. In what way would the invention of the “cotton gin” have

been said to relieve fatigue?

5. What might have been a barrier to the expansion of silk

weaving prior to the sixth century?

YES/NO/ WHY?

Can fatigue be a barrier to something?

Would you associate fatigue with being a flimsy excuse

219
Unit 6 Chapter 26 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Hospitality-the generous friendly treatment of guests
Monks practice hospitality to all who come to the monastery.
Making someone feel welcome is part of showing hospitality.

Is there anyone who you would not feel inclined to show

hospitality towards?

Justify-to give a good reason for; show to be right

My parents never needed to justify their decisions; it was
“Because I said so!” The President felt he had to justify his
decision to veto the bill.
Can you ever justify running a red light? Why?

Mistrust-to have no trust in; doubt

My mistrust of offers that sound too good to be true is based on
experience. When you say one thing and then do another, I tend
to mistrust you.
What do you most mistrust about politicians?

Persecute-to harm again & again, treat cruelly because of one’s

ideas, race or religion
It is not uncommon for people who hold power to persecute
others. Many people came to America because they were being
persecuted in their native country.
Have you ever been persecuted for something you believed in or
for who you were?

Soothe-to calm or comfort someone or something

Baking soda is a remedy that soothes a bee sting. A cup of hot tea
soothes me after a hectic day.
What’s the best way to soothe a crying baby?

220
FILL IN THE BLANK

The man found it hard to ______________ his bad behavior.

In India, Hindus _______________________ people of other religions.

I tend to ________________ someone who tells me I’m getting a great

deal.

A plant extract called Aloe Vera is used to _____________ minor burns.

You can make anyone feel welcome by practicing ___________________-.

COMPLETE THE SENTENCE

The way I show hospitality in my home is___________.

When I do something wrong, I try to justify it by________________ .

I mistrust people who___________________________.

I feel that I was persecuted when

__________________________________.

The way I soothe a headache is by _____________.

221
READ AND RESPOND "Due Process of Law”"

Timed Readings Book Four p. 71

1. Why might hospitality towards a policeman not be in your best

interest?

2. How does “due process of law” help prevent a person being

persecuted?

3. How could a policeman justify using physical violence in the pursuit

of their job?

4. Why might having a lawyer present help soothe a client?

5. Why do some people mistrust those in law enforcement?

YES/NO/WHY?

Would it be wise to mistrust an offer of hospitality?

Can you justify persecuting someone?

222
 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Unit 6 Chapter 27
Debate-to discuss a question by looking at different points of
view; argue
My family used to debate the issues of the day at the dinner table.

What subject might you debate with your best friend?

Discredit-to damage a good name or reputation

The executives at AIG have discredited the reputation of their
company.

How would you feel if someone tried to discredit you?

Displace-to move from the usual or proper place; shift the

location of
Many people were displaced when Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf
coast.
What are things that displace people?

Enforce-to make sure that a rule or law is obeyed

Some say we don’t need to write new laws; we just need to enforce
the ones we already have. We should make sure that everyone
obeys the ones we have.

Are there any rules in our center that we need to enforce?

Enumerate-to name one by one; to list

I have a friend who is training to enumerate for the 2010 census.
I enumerate all the chores I want my children to do.

Can you enumerate all the books you have read in the past year?
Why or why not?

223
Fill in the Blank:

1. Political candidates are often invited to

_______________ their opponents prior to Election
day.
2. I think it is important to ____________the speed limit
in residential areas.
3. After the tornado swept through the town, many folks
were _____________________d.
4. The preacher asked us to ________________ the Ten
Commandments in correct order.
5. The anonymous letter written to the editor was an
attempt to ________________ the reporter’s story.

Finish the Sentence:

1. My favorite subject to debate is
___________________.
2. A person that I believe has been unfairly discredited is
___________________.
3. I would feel displaced if you put me
_______________.
4. The rule that should always be enforced is
_____________________.
5. If I had to enumerate my top five favorite foods they
would be ________________________________.

224
Read and Respond: Civil Rights of Americans
Timed Readings Book Four p. 89

1. What do we call the protections that are enumerated in the

United States Constitution?

2. What would you call the rights that allow you to engage in
public debate?

3. What should you do if government officials attempt to

enforce a law unfairly?

4. If you feel like you have been discredited unfairly, what right
do you have?

5. What situations might cause you to feel displaced even

though you are a citizen?

YES/NO/WHY?
Should you enumerate your argument when you debate someone?

Would you have to discredit someone in order to displace them?

225
Unit 6 Chapter 27 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Identical-exactly alike
One day my brother and I went out and bought identical music
players. I always had trouble knowing which one was mine.

Who do you know that is identical to another person?

Singular-being only one; not plural

I understand a pair of shoes but why do we say a pair of pants. It’s
a singular piece of clothing.

What would you list as your singular achievement or ambition?

Sprawl-to lie or sit with the arms and legs thrown outward
There is a dog that comes in my yard. He will sprawl across the
step and get in my way when I am leaving the house.

When is it inappropriate to sprawl in a chair?

Spurt-to flow out suddenly with force

I hate when the water fountain spurts and splatters on my clothes
or spurts in my face.

Tell about a time something spurted out on you.

Stern-serious and strict

My parents were often stern when we were growing up.
Sometimes parents have to be serious and strict on children.

When do you use a stern voice?

226
Fill in the blank:

1. Jennifer Hudson made a ___________________impact in her role as

Effie in “Dreamgirls”.

2. The actors in the Doublemint Gum commercials are ____________

twins.

3. The boss addressed the assembled workforce in a ____________manner.

4. With a final ____________of energy the sprinter managed to win the

race.

5. What a sight! The kids are _____________________ed in front of a

blaring TV fast asleep.

Finish the Sentence

1. The singular most important thing I want to do this year is

_______________.

2. I have looked everywhere for an indentical ________________.

3. My favorite place to sprawl is _________________________.

4. I need to experience a spurt of energy in order to ___________________.

5. I find it hard to be stern when __________________________.

227
 Read and Respond: “A Nation of Contrasts”
Timed Readings Book Four p. 37

1. What is a singular impact that the British have had upon the world?

2. Why might it be difficult to find identical areas in Britian?

3. What do you think might have led to a spurt in adventure and

exploration as early as the 16th century?

4. Which of the two London’s might be described as sprawling and

why?

5. Which aspects of the face of the land might be described as stern?

YES/NO/WHY?

Do people tend to sprawl in an identical manner?

If you were trying to be stern, would you be likely to spurt?

228
 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Unit 6 Chapter 28
Discard - to throw away.
Every once in a while I discard all the surplus work sheets I have
accumulated.
What is one object that you need to discard?

Duration - The time during which something exists or

happens; the time remaining for something.
It's hard to stay awake for the duration of a movie while sitting in
my recliner.

What activity or event would you find hard to stay for the duration
of?

Essential - Necessary or needed.

Having a musical ear is essential to keep a guitar in tune.

What are the essential ingredients of a healthy relationship?

Exhibit - To present for others to see; to display.

I often try to exhibit my sense of humor while teaching.

What is the most important character quality that you exhibit?

Juvenile - Young; not fully grown; like a child

For adults to call each other names seems rather juvenile to me.

Why do you think an "R" rated movie might not be suitable for a
juvenile to view?

229
Fill in the Blank:

1. We never __________our used cans because we can

recycle them.
2. Throwing water balloons at passing cars is rather
___________.
3. Some say that reading Shakespeare is
______________to understanding literature.
4. I encouraged my friend to ______________her artwork.
5. Though I was tired, I stayed for the ___________of the
program.

Fill in the Blank:

1. We never __________our used cans because we can

recycle them.
2. Throwing water balloons at passing cars is rather
___________.
3. Some say that reading Shakespeare is
______________to understanding literature.
4. I encouraged my friend to ______________her artwork.
5. Though I was tired, I stayed for the ___________of the
program.

230
Read and Respond: A Major Concern
Page 77– Timed Readings Book Three

1. What are some things that might concern you about juvenile
eating habits?

2. Why might the sight of an overweight teenager give reason to

think that he was not receiving some essential nutrients?

3. What kinds of food might a teenager need to discard in order

to eat healthier?

4. What habits should teenagers develop that will be useful for

the duration of their lives?

5. What would you advise a teenager who appears to exhibit a

love for junk food?

231
Unit 6 Chapter 28 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Mature - adult, fully developed, behaving like an adult
At the age of 21, I was not mature enough to consider marriage as
an option.

What aspect of your life shows clearly how mature you are?

Miniature - made on a small scale

I was surprised when I first encountered a miniature pony.

What would you like to build in a miniature form ?

Peer - those that are on the same level as another, in terms of

age or occupation, part of the same group, an equal
I am a member of a number of different peer groups, such as,
teachers, preachers, and people my age.

What does the term 'peer pressure' mean to you?

Sanitary - Free from dirt or germs

The bathroom my teenagers use is less than sanitary.

What are some ways you might keep your kitchen sanitary?

Tragic - Very sad involving death, grief or destruction

The movie "The Last King of Scotland" contained some very
tragic scenes.

Can you give an example of a tragic circumstance?

232
Fill in the blank:

1. Some people in the world do not have access to ___________drinking

water.

2. Michael Oher overcame a _________childhood to find success on the

football field.

3. Many late night television programs are for ____________audiences

only.

4. The accused has a right to trial by a jury of his _________s.

5. Many adult men enjoy playing with ________________trains.

Fill in the blank:

1. Some people in the world do not have access to ___________drinking

water.

2. Michael Oher overcame a _________childhood to find success on the

football field.

3. Many late night television programs are for ____________audiences

only.

4. The accused has a right to trial by a jury of his _________s.

5. Many adult men enjoy playing with ________________trains.

233
Yes/No/ Why:

Is it juvenile not to remain for the duration of the lesson?

Is it essential to keep a house sanitary?

If you discard miniature clothing could you be considered mature?

Would it be right to exhibit the tragic circumstance of a peer?

Read and Respond

6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Safety First” – page 47– Timed Readings book three
See handout for questions.

234
 Read and Respond: “Safety First”
p. 47 – Timed Readings Book Three

1. What miniature objects would it be best to keep out of a baby's reach?

2. What tragic event might happen if a young child got hold of a

balloon?

3. What evidence is there in the passage that implies a baby might not be
very sanitary?

4. Why might young babies be likely to imitate their peers rather than
follow someone mature?

5. Why might you discard popcorn, nuts, or small hard candies when
caring for a young child?

6. What are some essential points to remember when trying to ensure the
safety of children?

235
 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Unit 6 Chapter 29
capability - a talent or ability
I wonder sometimes if I have the capability to make subjects
understandable to my students.

What capability would be useful in a natural disaster?

content – Satisfied; happy with what you have

I am content to be living in Grenada, Mississippi.

What aspect of your life are you content with?

duplicate – to make an exact copy of; to repeat

I try not to duplicate the lesson exactly.

What actions would not be wise to duplicate?

immense – Extremely large; huge.

I have immense appreciation of mothers and all they do.

What one thing or event would make an immense difference to

your life?

industrious – hard working; busy accomplishing something

When I have a deadline to meet, I become industrious.

What project or task would cause you to be industrious?

236
Fill in the blank:

1. I have learned to be ________________with my salary.

2. The Grand Canyon is an __________________natural wonder.

3. The rookie made the starting line-up because the coach saw he was
_______________________.

4. The guitar playing of Jimi Hendrix is a hard thing to ______________.

5. The man lost the job because he demonstrated no ______________for it.

Fill in the blank:

1. I have learned to be ________________with my salary.

2. The Grand Canyon is an __________________natural wonder.

3. The rookie made the starting line-up because the coach saw he was
_______________________.

4. The guitar playing of Jimi Hendrix is a hard thing to ______________.

5. The man lost the job because he demonstrated no ______________for it.

237
 Read and Respond: “In Praise of Trees”
page 59– Timed Readings book one

1. What peculiar capabilities does a tree have?

2. Why might you be content with the trunk of a tree?

3. Why is it important to duplicate trees?

4. Why might the impact of trees be described as immense?

5. Who would need to be industrious if they were wanting to use a tree?

Bonus YES/NO/WHY

Does a tree have the capability to be content?

Can you duplicate a tree by being industrious?

238
Unit 6 Chapter 29 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Magnify-to make something appear larger than it really is
My eyes are getting bad. When I need to thread a needle, I have
to get a device to magnify the needle so I can see it to thread it. I
have to get a magnifying glass.
What things do you need to magnify so you can see them better?

Postpone-to delay until a future time

Because my father was in the hospital, I had to postpone my own
doctor’s appointment. I had to delay going and go at another
time.
What do you wish you could postpone?

Presentable-in good enough condition to be shown to others

When I know someone is coming to my house, I try to make it
look presentable. Sometimes I hide things because I don’t have
enough time to do a really good job, but it is good enough.
What would you consider a “presentable” dress for a party? An
interview?

Realistic-seeing or telling things as they are; based on things

as they are
I try to be realistic when losing weight. I want to lose a lot very
fast, but I know that it takes time. It is more realistic to set a goal
of 1-2 lbs. per week of weight loss.
What do you think is a realistic amount of time for you to study
for and get your GED?

Stun-to shock; greatly surprise

The news that I had won a million dollars would probably stun
me. I don’t think I’d be able to speak at first. I would be so
surprised and shocked.
What has or would stun you?

239
Fill in the blank:

1. In order to make the kitchen __________________ in a

hurry, I hid the dishes under the sink.
2. Doug says it takes a half-hour to get to his house, but forty-
five minutes is more _____________________.
3. Jack was _______________ed the first time he saw the
Grand Canyon.
4. A microscope can______________ a blood cell hundreds of
times, making it large enough for us to see.
5. Can we ______________ this conversation for just five
minutes? First I need to finish what I’m working on.

Fill in the blank:

1. In order to make the kitchen __________________ in a

hurry, I hid the dishes under the sink.

2. Doug says it takes a half-hour to get to his house, but forty-

five minutes is more _____________________.

3. Jack was _______________ed the first time he saw the

Grand Canyon.

4. A microscope can______________ a blood cell hundreds of

times, making it large enough for us to see.

5. Can we ______________ this conversation for just five

minutes? First I need to finish what I’m working on.

240
Read and Respond
Timed Readings Book Four p. 61
“A Mental Disorder”

1. Why might people think a person with schizophrenia

is not presentable?

2. How does the disease magnify things?

3. How might a person suffering from schizophrenia

have trouble with realistic goals in their life?

4. What about this article stunned you?

5. What things might a schizophrenic person have to

postpone?

YES/NO/WHY?

Do you have to be realistic to be presentable?

Can having something stun you cause you to postpone

something important to you?

241
 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Unit 6 Chapter 30
Accurate (adjective)-exactly right; correct; without errors;
precise
Meterologists often claim their weather forecast is accurate, but I
tend to think otherwise.

What are some ways you can make sure your spelling is accurate?
Bluff (verb)- to pretend to know more or feel more confident
than one really does
Even though I am a pretty good cook, I often bluff about my
experiences when it comes to making desserts. I depend heavily
upon the cookbooks instead of my personal skills in the kitchen.
Describe a situation when it is okay to bluff.
Consist (verb)- to include; to be made up
My ideal Saturday afternoon consists of a good book, a
comfortable chair, a throw, and delicious snacks. These items
come to together to create a perfect relaxing afternoon.

In your opinion, a good student consists of what qualities?

Discomfort (noun)-a feeling of pain or uneasiness; lack of

comfort
I often experience a little discomfort after eating a Thanksgiving
meal. I usually eat way too much!

What are some situations that often result in discomfort?

Elementary (adjective)-basic; simple

One of the elementary rules I live by is this: why pay more when
an item is going to eventually go on sale. This rule is a simple one
that can help you save money.

What is an elementary skill or rule that you remember learning?

242
 Activity 1: Fill in the blanks: Use after explicit teaching

During the March Madness interviews, some of the players

appeared to be ___________________ about the skills on the
court.

Mark was experiencing some ___________________ after he had

surgery, so the doctor prescribed him some analgesics or pain
relievers.

Mrs. Ellis wanted to make sure the information was

_____________ before she announced the field trip agenda to her
class.

In her first computer class, Wanda learned some ____________

skills, such as how to start up the computer.

Middle schools usually ______________ of grades six through

eight.

Sentence Completion:

My favorite meal consist of______________________.

The most elementary rule about being a good friend is

_________________________________________________.

I can bluff my way through ___________________________.

A time I felt discomfort was ________________________.

I think it is important to be accurate when

_____________________.
243
Activity 2
Read and Respond
6th grade instructional vocabulary level –
Moving Along with the Times– page 43 – Timed Reading book
three
See handout for questions.

Read and Respond: Moving Along with the Times

P. 43 Timed Reading Book 3

1. What does moving to a new home consist of?

2. Why would you not want a moving company that

bluffed about their services?

3. What would you want your moving company to be

accurate about?

4. How could a move to a new home cause discomfort?

5. What are some elementary ideas you would tell

someone about moving?

244
Unit 6 Chapter 30 Groundwork to a Better Vocabulary
Latter- the second of two things or persons mentioned
I like to sleep and read. The latter is my favorite. I am talking
about the second of those two things. Reading.
Tell me two things or people you like and use the word “latter” to
indicate something about the second one.

modify- to change somewhat

Each time I make a dish I have made before, I modify it. I change
it just a little. Usually because I don’t have everything I need to
make it in the same way I made it before.
If you could modify one thing about your home, what would it be
and why?

Toxic- poisonous; very bad for one’s health

I keep toxic materials in a safe place in my home. Many of the
cleaning materials that I have are toxic if ingested. They are
poisonous and should not be eaten.
Name a toxic material you have in your home and tell why you
have it.

Trifle- to treat as if it has little value

You should never trifle with the truth. People do not respect liars.
Don’t play with the truth or treat it like it doesn’t matter.
How would you know that someone trifled with your feelings?

Vanity- a feeling of too much pride in one’s appearance, ability,

etc.
They say vanity or pride comes before a fall. I have seen that
happen. Someone is too proud and lets everyone know it.
Something usually happens and they come crashing down and are
embarrassed. People don’t like to be around a person full of
vanity.
When might you be full of vanity?

245
Activities:
Fill in the blank:

1. Because of Mark’s _____________ about his expert piano

playing, he refuses to play for people unless he’s learned it perfectly.

2. After learning about the _____________ waste nearby, the

Millers no longer wanted to buy the house they had looked at.

3. When I was offered pumpkin pie or cherry pie, I chose the

______________.

4. I never ______________ with other people’s things. They may

be important to them.

5. A mechanic can________________ a car so it can be driven by

someone who can’t use his or her legs.

Sentence Completion:

One thing I feel people should not trifle with is ______________________.

I want to modify my ___________________________________.

Which would you rather be talented or rich? If I chose the latter, it would
be because_________________________________.

Vanity sometimes causes me to _____________________________.

The toxic material that I feel should be banned is ___________________.

Read and Respond: Timed Reading Book 3 : Better Safe Than Sorry – p. 81: grade 6
instruction
See questions on handout

246
Read and Respond: Better Safe Than Sorry -- p.81 Timed Reading
Book 3

1. If you have a small child, how might you modify your home for
the child’s safety?

2. What toxic material could cause a fire? What is toxic during a

house fire?

3. What should you not trifle with when trying to put out a fire?

4. How might your vanity result in danger to your family?

5. Write a sentence about something you learned in this article

and use the word latter.

247
 Building Vocabulary Skills
Unit 1 Chapter 1
Acknowledge (verb)- to admit or confess
One quality about me is that I have no problem acknowledging
when I make a mistake.
What is an error you have made recently that you had to
acknowledge?

Alternative (noun)- a choice

My friends and I planned to go out to dinner over the weekend.
We had decided on a restaurant, but realized we needed an
alternative just in case our first choice was crowded.
Why do you feel it is important to have alternatives when making
plans or setting goals?

Anecdote (noun)- a short interesting story

My friends tease me for always having an anecdote for any
problem they have.

What is an anecdote that you recently heard?

Appropriate (adjective)-proper, suitable for the situation

When I get dressed for church and work, I want to make sure my
clothing attire is appropriate.

What do you think is appropriate attire for work?

Avert (verb)- to prevent; to avoid

I was going to lunch last week when a car swerved into my lane. I
had to act quickly to avert an accident.

What are some things you have done to avert having to talk to
someone?

248
 Activity 1: Fill-in-the-blank: Use after explicit teaching

John hid in his room to __________________ a meeting with Jason.

Jacqueline has a job interview Monday, so she went shopping to make sure
she has a(n) __________________ outfit to wear.

My friends and I are planning a trip to Hawaii, but just in case our plans
don’t work out, Florida is another ____________________.

My grandmother always has an exciting _______________ to share about

when she was growing up.

Selfish people often find it difficult to __________________ the generosity

of others.

Activity 1: Fill-in-the-blank: Use after explicit teaching

John hid in his room to __________________ a meeting with Jason.

Jacqueline has a job interview Monday, so she went shopping to make sure
she has a(n) __________________ outfit to wear.

My friends and I are planning a trip to Hawaii, but just in case our plans
don’t work out, Florida is another ____________________.

My grandmother always has an exciting _______________ to share about

when she was growing up.

Selfish people often find it difficult to __________________ the generosity

of others.

249
 Activity 2: Sentence Completions: Use after explicit teaching

1. Some people feel that it is not appropriate to ___________________________.

2. I often have to acknowledge that ____________________________________.

3. To avert an accident, Susan had to__________________________________.

4. I once heard an anecdote about _____________________________________.

5. I like to have alternatives for _______________________________________.

Activity 2: Sentence Completions: Use after explicit teaching

1. Some people feel that it is not appropriate to ___________________________.

2. I often have to acknowledge that ____________________________________.

3. To avert an accident, Susan had to__________________________________.

4. I once heard an anecdote about _____________________________________.

5. I like to have alternatives for _______________________________________.

250
Activity 3
Read and Respond
8th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Humor” – page 61 – Timed Reading Plus book five
See handout for questions.

Read and Respond: “Humor”

1. In what audible way do people acknowledge something that is

humorous?

2. Can you think of an old television show that can be used in an

anecdote about the fourth paragraph? If so, what television show?

3. What is an occasion in which humor would not be appropriate?

4. What is an alternative for verbal humor?

5. Is it possible to avert humorous moments? Why or why not?

Next page is handout to copy:

251
 Read and Respond: “Humor”
Please answer the follow questions in complete sentences.
You must use at least one vocabulary word in your response.

1. In what audible way do people acknowledge something that is

humorous?

2. Can you think of an old television show that can be used in an

anecdote about the fourth paragraph? If so, what television show?

3. What in an occasion in which humor would not be appropriate?

4. What is an alternative for verbal humor?

5. Is it possible to avert humorous moments? Why or why not?

252
 Yes/No/Why

Do you think telling anecdotes are a good alternative for teaching life
lessons?

Is it appropriate for politicians to be forced to acknowledge their mistakes

in the public eye?

253
Unit 1 Chapter 1 Building Vocabulary Skills
Candid (adjective)- honest
Use the word in context as an example for the student.

What are some ways to give candid answers if you know your
answer is going to hurt someone’s feelings?

Compel (verb)- to force

Use the word in context as an example for the student.

What is something you felt compelled to do today?

Comply (verb)- to do as asked or commanded to do

Use the word in context as an example for the student.

What is something someone can ask in which in you will comply?

Concise (adjective)-clear and brief

Use the word in context as an example for the student.

What is something you would describe as being concise?

Drastic (adjective)-extreme; harsh or intense

Use the word in context as an example for the student.

What are some internal features people look for in purchasing an

automobile?

254
 Activity 1: Fill-in-the-blank: Use after explicit teaching

The journalist wrote a(n) _________________ article, so it would fit in the

small space on the front page.

The little boy will _________________ with his mother’s request to pick up
his toys.

Janet took __________________ steps to lose weight before the pageant.

If the law did not ________________ motorists to wear their seatbelts,

some people would not wear them.

Matthew gave his __________________ opinion even though he knew it

wasn’t what his girlfriend wanted to hear.

Activity 1: Fill-in-the-blank: Use after explicit teaching

The journalist wrote a(n) _________________ article, so it would fit in the

small space on the front page.

The little boy will _________________ with his mother’s request to pick up
his toys.

Janet took __________________ steps to lose weight before the pageant.

If the law did not ________________ motorists to wear their seatbelts,

some people would not wear them.

Matthew gave his __________________ opinion even though he knew it

wasn’t what his girlfriend wanted to hear.

255
 Activity 2: Fill-in-the-blank: Use after explicit teaching

I refused to comply with my parents when they asked me _______________________.

I offered my candid opinion, but ______________________________.

Mark took drastic measures to ____________________________________.

This country needs a law to compel people to ________________________.

One person I wish would be concise is _____________________________.

Activity 2: Fill-in-the-blank: Use after explicit teaching

I refused to comply with my parents when they asked me _______________________.

I offered my candid opinion, but ____________________________________.

Mark took drastic measures to ____________________________________.

This country needs a law to compel people to ____________________________.

One person I wish would be concise is _________________________________.

256
Activity 3
Read and Respond
8th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Learning to Act” – page 69 – Timed Reading Plus book five
See handout for questions.

Read and Respond: “Learning to Act”

1. How does the audience compel an actor to develop a character or

role?

2. Do actors have candid emotions when acting? Explain your response.

3. As described by the author, what are the drastic differences between

dancing, singing, and acting?

4. Write a concise description of acting.

5. How does acting comply with the command of the audience’s social
behavior?

257
 Read and Respond: “Learning to Act”

Please answer the follow items in complete sentences.

You must use at least one vocabulary word in your response.

1. How does the audience compel an actor to develop a character or

role?

2. Do actors have candid emotions when acting? Explain your response.

3. As described by the author, what are the drastic differences between

dancing, singing, and acting?

4. Write a concise description of acting.

5. How does acting comply with the command of the audience’s social
behavior?

258
 YES/NO/WHY

Should people be motivated to make drastic changes in their lives

because they are complying with the demands of society?

Is it possible to always advert being candid with friends?

259
 Building Vocabulary Skills
Unit 1 Chapter 2
Dialog (noun)- a conversation
The dialog between my friends was captured on video.

What methods do you use to try to have open dialog with your
family or friends?

Erratic (adjective)- irregular; not consistent

Some students feel as though they can attend class every once in
awhile. These students’ attendance is very erratic.

What do you do that is erratic?

Extensive (adjective)- large amount; large in space and amount

I have an extensive collection of beanie babies.

What is something in which you have an extensive amount?

Forfeit (verb)- to give up; to lose through some fault

I had to forfeit my deposit on my vacation because I was too sick
to fly.

What is something you wanted, but had to forfeit?

Fortify (verb)- to strengthen

I try to fortify my immune system in the winter by drinking juice
and taking my vitamin C.

How do you fortify your body?

260
 Activity 1: Fill in the blanks: Use after explicit teaching

1. The football players’________________ performance cost them the

game because they fumbled the ball on two plays.

2. The mother tried to have honest _____________ with her children

about the harmful effects of drugs.

3. The high school soccer team wants to make sure they arrive for the
soccer match early because they don’t want to have to
___________________ the game if they are late.

4. During the battle, the soldiers tried to _________________ their

position so the opposing army wouldn’t over take them.

5. Scientists have done ___________________ research on the causes

of the common cold.

Activity 1: Fill in the blanks: Use after explicit teaching

1. The football players’________________ performance cost them the

game because they fumbled the ball on two plays.

2. The mother tried to have honest _____________ with her children

about the harmful effects of drugs.

3. The high school soccer team wants to make sure they arrive for the
soccer match early because they don’t want to have to
___________________ the game if they are late.

4. During the battle, the soldiers tried to _________________ their

position so the opposing army wouldn’t over take them.

5. Scientists have done ___________________ research on the causes

of the common cold.

261
 Activity 2- Sentence Completion

I think a person has an erratic behavior when he or she _______________.

The football team had to forfeit the game because ___________________.

The dialog between the parents became tense when __________________.

If I had an extensive amount of money, I would ___________________.

Before coming to class, I fortify myself by _______________________.

Activity 2- Sentence Completion

I think a person has an erratic behavior when he or she _______________.

The football team had to forfeit the game because ___________________.

The dialog between the parents became tense when __________________.

If I had an extensive amount of money, I would ___________________.

Before coming to class, I fortify myself by _______________________.

262
Activity 3
Read and Respond
8th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Hunger and Famine”– page 97 – Timed Reading book five
See handout for questions.

Read and Respond: “Hunger and Famine”

1. What are some of the causes of erratic famine?

2. What did the author discuss as being a measure to fortify a country

against famine?

3. What did Ireland’s 1840’s potato crop failure cause the people to
forfeit?

4. Why does the shortage of food in the United States not lead to the
extensive issues faced by some other countries?

263
 Read and Respond: “Hunger and Famine”

1. What are some of the causes of erratic famine?

2. What did the author discuss as being a measure to fortify a country

against famine?

3. What did Ireland’s 1840’s potato crop failure cause the people to
forfeit?

4. Why does the shortage of food in the United States not lead to the
extensive issues faced by some other countries?

264
 Yes/No/Why

Do you think it is difficult to consistently have peaceful dialog with

someone who has erratic behavior?

Should the police ever resort to using extensive force to fortify

their position when dealing with unruly teenagers?

265
Unit 1 Chapter 2 Building Vocabulary Skills
Illuminate (verb)- to light up
The dining room was illuminated when I lit the candles.

What are some ways you illuminate your house?

Isolate (verb)- to separate; to separate from others

I try not to isolate myself when I am with a group of people. I
want to interact with others so I can be a part of what is going on.

When do you try to isolate yourself from others?

Refuge (noun)- shelter; protection

Church is my refuge when I am feeling troubled or discouraged.

Where do you find refuge?

Reminisce (verb)- to remember and talk about the past

I enjoy reminiscing with my friends about the things we did in the
past. Sometimes a friend and I can talk for hours about the past.

With whom do you like to reminisce about the past?

Urban (adjective)- city; of or in a city

I prefer to live in a country setting as oppose to the hustle and
bustle of urban life. Urban living offers many amenities such as
being close to stores.

Why would you enjoy living in an urban area?

266
 Activity 1: Fill in the blanks: Use after explicit teaching

1. When Lisa feels overwhelmed, she seeks _______________ at her

parents’ house.

2. Tim is a very talkative student, so the teacher decided to

______________ him from the other students.

3. The asphalt jungle is a scientific term that refers to the extensive

heating of _________________ areas as oppose to locations that do
not have high-rise buildings and large areas of pavement.

4. During the class reunion, the classmates __________________(ed)

about their days in high school.

5. The Christmas tree’s colorful lights will

_________________________ the hallway.

Activity 1: Fill in the blanks: Use after explicit teaching

1. When Lisa feels overwhelmed, she seeks _______________ at her

parents’ house.

2. Tim is a very talkative student, so the teacher decided to

______________ him from the other students.

3. The asphalt jungle is a scientific term that refers to the extensive

heating of _________________ areas as oppose to locations that do
not have high-rise buildings and large areas of pavement.

4. During the class reunion, the classmates __________________(ed)

about their days in high school.

5. The Christmas tree’s colorful lights will

_________________________ the hallway.

267
 Activity 2- Sentence Completion

1. I like to reminisce about _________________________________.

2. The number one issue I have against living in an urban area is

_________________________.

3. People should be isolated from the rest of society when

___________________________.

4. I often describe refuge as being

_______________________________.

5. The sky was illuminated ___________________________________.

Activity 2- Sentence Completion

1. I like to reminisce about _________________________________.

2. The number one issue I have against living in an urban area is

_________________________.

3. People should be isolated from the rest of society when

___________________________.

4. I often describe refuge as being

_______________________________.

5. The sky was illuminated ___________________________________.

268
Activity 3
Read and Respond
8th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“Sequoya’s Great Project”– page 15 – Timed Reading book five
See handout for questions.

Read and Respond: “Sequoya’s Great Project”

Where did Sequoya seek refuge after his cabin burned?

Why did Sequoya isolate himself from the Cherokee Indians of the
Southeastern United States?

Did the Cherokee Indians of the Southeast live in an urban area? How do
you know?

If Sequoya reminisced about his efforts to create a system of writing, what

events do you think he would have mentioned?

Write a sentence about this passage using the word illuminate.

269
 Read and Respond: “Sequoya’s Great Project”

1. Where did Sequoya seek refuge after his cabin burned?

2. Why did Sequoya isolate himself from the Cherokee Indians of the
Southeastern United States?

3. Did the Cherokee Indians of the Southeast live in an urban area? How
do you know?

4. If Sequoya reminisced about his efforts to create a system of writing,

what events do you think he would have mentioned?

5. Write a sentence about this passage using the word illuminate.

270
 Yes/No/Why

Do you think the United States should act as a refuge for people
when their country is experiencing drastic civil unrest or war?

Can criminals conform to a society when they have been isolated

for numerous years unable to fortify their social skills?

271
 Building Vocabulary Skills
Unit 1 Chapter 3
Delete (verb)- to erase; to cross out
I was recently working a document on the computer that I had
spent a considerable amount of time working on. I wasn’t paying
attention to what I was doing and accidentally deleted all my hard
work.
What is something you wish you could delete from your life?

Impartial (adjective) - fair; not biased; without prejudice

When I listen to my friends dispute an issue, I try to remain an
impartial observer.

Do you have a hard time being impartial when listening to friends

debate? Why so, why?

Integrity (noun)- honesty; strong moral sense

I hope others will view me as being a sincere lady with strong
integrity.

How do you recognize a person with strong integrity?

Legitimate (adjective)- considered proper; in accordance with

accepted laws, rules, and standards
I don’t think there is a legitimate excuse to disrespect your
parents or any elders for that matter.
What is a legitimate reason to not do your homework?

Lenient (adjective)- easygoing; not strict or harsh in disciplining or

punishing; merciful
At times, I tend to be too lenient with students. I often accept
some excuses about incomplete assignments and absences that
might not be valid.
Who is someone that you are lenient with when listening to their
explanations?

272
 Activity 1 Fill-in-the-Blank

1. Rod has _________________ because he refused to lie to protect his

friends.

2. Most grandparents are _________________ when it comes to

enforcing rules with their grandchildren.

3. I had so many text messages saved on my phone, so I knew it was

time to __________________ them.

4. I could not come up with a(n) _________________ excuse for not

completing the assignment, so the teacher sent me to detention.

5. Luke was hoping that the principal would be ________________, so

she would sincerely listen to both sides of the story.

Activity 1 Fill-in-the-Blank

1. Rod has _________________ because he refused to lie to protect his

friends.

2. Most grandparents are _________________ when it comes to

enforcing rules with their grandchildren.

3. I had so many text messages saved on my phone, so I knew it was

time to __________________ them.

4. I could not come up with a(n) _________________ excuse for not

completing the assignment, so the teacher sent me to detention.

5. Luke was hoping that the principal would be ________________, so

she would sincerely listen to both sides of the story.

273
 Activity 2: Sentence Completion

I need a legitimate reason ________________________________.

Oh, I wish I could delete _________________________________.

A person who has strong integrity will ______________________.

I think society is too lenient about _________________________.

I can’t be impartial when it comes _________________________.

Activity 2: Sentence Completion

I need a legitimate reason ________________________________.

Oh, I wish I could delete _________________________________.

A person who has strong integrity will ______________________.

I think society is too lenient about _________________________.

I can’t be impartial when it comes _________________________.

274
Activity 3
Read and Respond
7th grade instructional vocabulary level –
“What is Black Lung?”– page 23 – Timed Reading book four
See handout for questions.

Read and Respond: “What is Black Lung?”

1. Why is the low dust limits set by the Bureau of Mines considered
legitimate?

2. How would you describe the integrity of the miners in the West
Virginia mountains?

3. What are some ways that the Bureau of Mines might be lenient with
mine owners?

4. How can some of the dangers associated with methane be deleted or

reduced?

5. Why is Black Lung considered an impartial illness among miners?

6. Give your opinion about the article using one of our vocabulary
words from any week so far.

275
 Read and Respond: “What is Black Lung?”

1. Why is the low dust limits set by the Bureau of Mines considered
legitimate?

2. How would you describe the integrity of the miners in the West
Virginia mountains?

3. What are some ways that the Bureau of Mines might be lenient with
mine owners?

4. How can some of the dangers associated with methane be deleted or

reduced?

5. Why is Black Lung considered an impartial illness among miners?

276
“Who Needs to Know This Word”
Delete- A receptionist needs to know the word delete because she needs to
make sure she doesn’t mistakenly hit the delete when typing the important
report.

Integrity- Church members need to know the word integrity because they
want to make sure they select a Pastor who maintains high moral standings
in the community.

Etc.

277
Unit 1 Chapter 3 Building Vocabulary Skills
Menace- a danger; a threat
Use in context

What do you feel is the greatest menace to young people in

today’s society?

Morale- spirit; state of mind with respect to confidence and

enthusiasm
Use in context

What are some things that will boost your morale?

Naïve-lacking experience lacking worldly experience;

unsuspecting; unsophisticated
Use in context

Who is someone that you know, that you would describe as

naïve?

Overt- obvious; not hidden

Use in context

What are some overt signs that signal the changing of seasons?

Undermine- to weaken; to gradually weaken or damage

Use in context

What do you do when a small child undermines your authority?

278
No Activities for these words.

279
 Building Vocabulary Skills
Unit 1 Chapter 4
Agenda (noun)- a schedule; a list of things to be done
Use in context

What are some items that are on your agenda for this week?

Antidote (noun)- a remedy; anything that relieves a harmful

situation
Use in context

What do you think is a good antidote for feeling sad?

Apathy (noun)- lack of interest or concern

Use in context

What is a good way to relieve students’ apathy when it comes to

studying history?

Bland (adjective)- dull; not interesting or exciting

Use in context

What movie would you describe as being bland?

Propaganda (noun)-publicity; ideas spread to support or oppose

a cause
Use in context

What is an example of propaganda you have come into contact

with lately?

280
Fill-in-the-Blank

My grandmother seems to always have a(n) ______________ for any

illness.

Many entertainers use negative _____________to boost their careers,

while other public figures have a difficult time recovering from such
devastating tactics.

Southern cooks often avoid preparing ______________ dishes by cooking

with a variety of spices and seasonings.

Marion passed out the ___________________ for today’s meeting, which

included the election of new officers.

Despite dire environmental issues, many people still display

____________________ for such environmental concerns as global
warming.

Sentence Completion

I enjoy listening to propaganda about _______________________.

No one could ever describe me as being bland when it comes to

______________________________.

My antidote for the common cold is __________________________.

My friends often show apathy for ___________________________.

Most people were surprised to find out that the meeting’s agenda included
__________________________________.

Activity 2
Read and Respond
“President Truman’s Fair Deal”
– page 49 -Timed Readings Plus Book 5 Social Studies
See handout for questions.
281
 Read and Respond: “President Truman’s Fair Deal”

1. What were some of the items on President Truman’s agenda during

his Presidency?

2. During this time period, do you think the country was experiencing
apathy when it came to some of the social issues such as having a
national health care plan, implementing civil rights reform, or
funding low-income housing? Why do you feel this way?

3. What do you think is the antidote to establishing extensive social

reforms in such areas as raising the minimum wage or relieving the
current economic strain on our country?

4. Describe some of the propaganda President Harry S. Truman might

have faced during his Presidency?

5. Did you find the title of this article to be bland? Why or why not.

282
YES/NO/WHY

 Should teachers seek an antidote for student’s apathy?

 Can negative propaganda prove beneficial for bland professional

athletes

283
Unit 1 Chapter 4 Building Vocabulary Skills
Prospects (noun)- chances
Use in context

What do you think are the prospects of Grenada getting a

shopping mall within the next ten years?

Radical (adjective)- extreme

Use in context

What radical change could be made here at the Adult Education

Center that would be a great benefit to our students?

Reinforce (verb)- to strengthen; to add support to

Use in context

What is something that happened to you that reinforced the

importance of education?

Relevant (adjective)- related; to the point

Use in context

Is the weather relevant to your plans for the weekend? Why or

why not.

Ruthless (adjective)- without mercy

Use in context

Who is someone that you would describe as being ruthless?

284
Fill-in-the-Blank

1. Victor Newman, a star on the Young and the Restless, can be

described as _____________________________ because he does
not care who he hurts.

2. I had to write my essay over because I had included several

sentences that were not _____________________ to the thesis.

3. The new boss is ________________________ because he made

some extreme changes to the office staff.

4. Mary bought some pantyhose that had ____________________ toes,

so they won’t rip so easily.

5. What do you think are my ____________________ of finding a job in

New York City?

Fill-in-the-Blank

1. Victor Newman, a star on the Young and the Restless, can be

described as _____________________________ because he does
not care who he hurts.

2. I had to write my essay over because I had included several

sentences that were not _____________________ to the thesis.

3. The new boss is ________________________ because he made

some extreme changes to the office staff.

4. Mary bought some pantyhose that had ____________________ toes,

so they won’t rip so easily.

5. What do you think are my ____________________ of finding a job in

New York City?

285
Sentence Completion

I believe studying math is relevant to my life

because____________________________.

The most ruthless movie character is ______________________________.

I think my prospects are above average when it comes to

______________________________________.

An example of a radical group of people would be those people

______________________________________.

I need to reinforce my skills in ___________________________________.

Sentence Completion

I believe studying math is relevant to my life

because____________________________.

The most ruthless movie character is ______________________________.

I think my prospects are above average when it comes to

______________________________________.

An example of a radical group of people would be those people

______________________________________.

I need to reinforce my skills in ___________________________________.

286
No Read and Respond Activity for this lesson. You are on your
own to develop one.

287
 Building Vocabulary Skills
Unit 1 Chapter 5
Endorse- to support; express approval of
Use in context

Would you endorse the building of a casino in Grenada County?

Why or why not.

Erode- to wear away

Use in context

What is something that might erode the confidence voters have

for political candidates?

Gruesome- frightening; horrible; shocking

Use in context

What is a current news story that you have found to be

gruesome?

Hypocrite- an insincere person; one who claims to be something

he or she is not
Use in context

In your opinion, what are some qualities that make a person a

hypocrite?

Idealistic- tending to emphasize ideals and principles over

practical concerns
Use in context

Which word would better describe you idealistic or practical? Why

288
Fill-in-the-Blank

During the last election, former President ___________(ed)

several democratic candidates.

Marilyn is such a(n) __________________________. She claims to

be against gambling, but she hosts a weekly poker party.

“The Last Exorcism” is a _________________ horror movie.

My brother is too ________________ to ever marry a woman for

her looks.

The ocean’s waves continue to ________________ the white sand

beach.

Sentence Completion

Paul is a hypocrite because

________________________________.

I would never endorse a product that

_______________________.

I am an idealistic individual when it comes to

_____________________.

The most gruesome thing I have ever seen was

___________________________.

289
My confidence in the government would erode if
__________________________________.

Read and Respond

“Lives of the Shakers”– page 21
Timed Readings Plus in Social Studies Book 7
See handout for questions.

Read and Respond: “Lives of the Shakers”

What in this article reinforced the idealistic lifestyle of the Shakers?

Why did the Shaker communities begin to erode after the Civil War?

When it comes to the lifestyle of the Shakers, what is described in the

article that might be viewed as gruesome by today’s society?

Do you think the Shakers, those living between the American Revolution
and the first half of the 19th century, would have endorsed the communal
lifestyle of such groups as those led by Warren Jeffs? Why or why not?

Would you describe the Shakers to be a radical religious group? Why or

why not?

YES/NO/WHY?

Is a ruthless person also a hypocrite?

Do you think people have a difficult time isolating idealistic

ideals from practical concerns?

290
 Read and Respond: “Lives of the Shakers”

1. What in this article reinforced the idealistic lifestyle of the Shakers?

2. Why did the Shaker communities begin to erode after the Civil War?

3. When it comes to the lifestyle of the Shakers, what is described in

the article that might be viewed as gruesome by today’s society?

4. Do you think the Shakers, those living between the American

Revolution and the first half of the 19th century, would have
endorsed the communal lifestyle of such groups as those led by
Warren Jeffs? Why or why not?

5. Would you describe the Shakers to be a radical religious group? Why

or why not?
291
Unit 1 Chapter 5 Building Vocabulary Skills
Illusion (noun)- a false impression; a mistaken view or reality
Use in context

What is something that you believed was true, but later realized it
was just an illusion?

Impact (noun)- a force of one thing striking another

Use in context

Do you believe the impact some sports athletes encounter will

have long term affects on their health and well-being?

Imply (verb)- to express indirectly; suggest

Use in context

What does your attitude in the classroom imply about your

overall personality?

Novice (noun)- a beginner; someone new to a field or activity

Use in context

A person should not invest too much money in which hobby if

they describe himself or herself as a novice?

Obstacle (noun)- something that gets in the way

Use in context

In your opinion, why are some obstacles viewed as a stepping

stone.

292
Fill-in-the-Blank

Jeremy has never played soccer, so he is joining the class for

_____________(s).

Lisa just ______________(ied) that Marilyn is a hypocrite even though she

didn’t use those exact words.

I once had a(n) _________________ of being stranded in the desert, but

luckily I was just walking on the outskirts of Las Vegas.

The major ______________ to my brother passing the history test is his

laziness when it comes to studying.

When crows fly into the windows, the ________________ of hitting the
glass should be enough to kill them.

Sentence Completion

I think some people have illusions about

_________________________________.

People would describe me as a novice when it comes to

_____________________.

I will overcome the next obstacle in my life by

____________________________.

The person who has had the greatest impact in my life is

____________________.

I would never, at least not publicly, imply that

____________________________.

293
Read and Respond
“Ice-Cream Plants”
Time Readings Book Five
Page 21

What obstacles might animals living on an overgrazed range have to

overcome?

A novice range manager must learn how to look at the range “through the
eyes of the cattle”. Why is this skill important?

How might an infection impact the health of a weakened animal?

The title of the passage creates an illusion of food. Why might this illusion
be an accurate portrayal of the title?

294
The passage uses the word insidious in discussing animal overpopulation.
What does insidious imply in this context?
Yes/No/ Why:

 Would you buy a product just because it was endorsed by a

celebrity?
 Does negative propaganda impact the outcome of a president’s
agenda?

Who needs to know this word?

Erode- An environmental scientist needs to know the word erode because

he or she will have to be aware of eroding soil when examining the affects
of a flood on an area.

Illusion- A magician needs to know the word illusion because he is trying to

create an illusion when performing magic tricks.

295