LESSON 38 ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL WORDS

 

ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL WORDS LESSON 38

 

1 biography (baɪˈɑːɡrəfi) the written story of a person’s life; the part of literature that consists of biographies a Our teacher recommended* the biography of the architect* Frank Lloyd Wright. b The reading of a biography gives a knowledge of people and events* that cannot always be obtained* from history books. c The biography of Malcolm X is a popular* book in our school. 2 drench (drench) wet thoroughly; soak a A heavy rain drenched the campus,* and the students had to dry out their wet clothing. b The drenching rains resumed* after only one day of sunshine. c His fraternity friends tried to drench him but he was too clever for them. 3 swarm (swôrm) group of insects flying or moving about together; crowd or great number; to fly or move about in great numbers a As darkness approached,* the swarms of children playing in the park dwindled* to a handful. b The mosquitoes swarmed out of the swamp. c Our campus* swarmed with new students in September.     Words in Use Read the following passage to see how the new words are used in it. Gulliver’s Travels Jonathan Swift tried to show the smallness of people by writing the biography of Dr. Lemuel Gulliver. In one of his strangest adventures, Gulliver was shipwrecked. Drenched and weary,* he fell asleep on the shore. In the morning, he found himself tied to pegs in the ground, and swarming over him were hundreds of little people six inches high. After a time he was allowed to stand, though he began to wobble from being bound so long. He was then marched through the streets, naturally causing a tumult wherever he went. Even the palace was not big enough for him to enter, nor could he kneel before the king and queen. But he did show his respect for them in another way. The king was dejected because he feared an invasion of Lilliput by Blefuscu, the enemy across the ocean. The reason for the war between the two tiny peoples would seem small and foolish to us. The rebels of Blefuscu were originally Lilliputians who would not abide* by the royal decision to crack their eggs on the small end instead of on the larger end. Gulliver, obedient to the king’s command, waded out into the water when the tide receded, and sticking a little iron hook into each of fifty warships, he pulled the entire enemy fleet to Lilliput. Gulliver later escaped from Lilliput when he realized the tiny king was really a tyrant with no charity in his heart. Oddly enough, the verdict of generations of readers has taken no heed* of the author’s intention in Gulliver’s Travels. Instead, while Lilliputians are still the symbol* of small, narrow-minded people, Swift’s savage attack upon humankind has become one of the best-loved children’s classics.   Fill in the Blanks Place one of the new words in each of the blanks below. 1 The principal probed* the cause of the _______ in the cafeteria. 2 A _______ of insects descended* on the picnic food 3 When asked for their _______ on the agreement, the members gave their approval spontaneously.* 4 The first project in our creative writing class was a _______ of a close friend or relative. 5 Until the flood waters _______ , the authorities prohibited* anyone from returning to the vicinity.* 6 Mr. Finley was redeemed* in the eyes of his employees* by his _______ in overlooking their costly error. 7 The grateful* traveler would _______ in prayer every night. 8 Mother is an expert at soothing* our _______ spirits. 9 It is absurd* to surrender your rights to a _______ when you have abundant* reason to remain free. 10 We faced the dilemma* of being _______ in the downpour while we covered our boat or having to bail the water out of the boat after the rain had ceased.* 11 Melinda shrieked* as the unstable* pedestrian* _______ into the path of the oncoming car. 12 A glance* from the mother was enough of a reminder to bring the _______ child back to her side.   True or False Based on the way the new word is used, write T (true) or F (false) next to the sentence. 1 A swarm is a small group. 2 To be obedient is to do what you are told; to be willing to obey. 3 A painting of a woman kneeling shows the woman walking with a parasol. 4 A biography is the written story of a person’s life. 5 When reporters describe the tumult in the streets, they are referring to the noisy mob. 6 To recede is to go forward. 7 If you get drenched, you’ll be soaking wet. 8 The jury’s decision is called the verdict. 9 I was dejected to learn that I had won the lottery. 10 A tyrant is a just and kind ruler. 11 To wobble is to move unsteadily from side to side. 12 To show charity in judging others is to be kind and lenient in judging their faults.   Spotlight On biography—This is a good time to settle an easy question. A biography is a book written about a person’s life. The author may write of someone else’s life or his or her own; however, when a book is written about one’s own life, it’s more accurately labeled an autobiography.   Picture It Which of the words studied in this lesson is suggested by the picture?

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