· \\i
Ii
wing passage in which some of the words
Voca~~t",y'or
COmpf.lhensioh
"f:"
Read the folldied in Units 1-3 appear in boldface type.
you have stv the questions on page 43.
Then answer
This passage discusses th
such as pyramids,
that
ha e way
.
anCIent
{'Iative Americans built structures,
turies.
ve lasted for ce(1
(Line)
(5)
(10)
(15)
(20)
(26)
Long before EuroPeans reached
the Americas, native people erected
massive citadels. M~ny of these
ancient buildings still stand,
delighting and fa~cinating both
scholars and tounsts. But the
durability of these Btt'uctures raises
puzzling qu~~t.ion~. Many Native
American Clvllizatlot")s arose in
earthquake zones or near active.
volcanoes. All the sttuctures built In
these areas were ~Ubject to stresseS
that could easily hC\ve reduced
them to rubble. What factors
account for the IOtl~evity of thesen
great monuments to Native Amenc8inventiveness and ~kill? Why have
these structures ~u rviveo while 50
many European-~t)o-Ie buildings
have not?
. en
Because sChol<::lr~ have few w(ill
documents from thi s period to turD
I
to, they must grap(::)le with physiC8
and cultural evidel"Jce. They
compare the CluE::l~they find wilh
what they know <::l~out modern
5
architecture and t).uilding pracliCe.
Scholars now b~lieve
that
Native American a"chitects
kneli
the secrets of building durable
structures on unstable ground.
Inca masons, for example, found a
way to fit large blocks of stone
together snugly to form walls
that were both strong and flexible,
(35)
able to withstand tremors and
quakes. The tapered shape of the
temple pyramids was also a
contributing factor. Many early
architects understood that the
(40)
combination of oblique angles and
straight, parallel lines gives a
building stability.
Comparison with European
(45) architecture provides another
perspective. Unlike their European
counterparts, Native American
architects did not construct arches.
The arch, widely used in European
(50) buildings to achieve height, is very
vulnerable to stresses that can
cause it to collapse. In contrast,
most early Native American
structures rose in height with the
(55) support of heavy, solid walls.
These elements may explain why
so many of these superb structures
remain for us to appreciate today.
(30)
1. The main purpose of the passage is to
a. describe how the Inca built pyramids
b. summarize the findings of ancient
documents
c. challenge scholars' theories about
Native American structures
d. explain why ancient Native American
structures are still standing
e. investigate why European buildings
are superior to Native American
structures
7. In paragraph 3 (lines 28-43), the
author speculates on why ancient
Native American structures have
withstood
a. natural disasters
b. hot, humid weather
c. countless tribal wars
d. snow, wind, and rain
e. invasion by Europeans
2. The meaning of citadels (line 3) is
a. monuments
b. apartments
c. strongholds
d. bridges
e. malls
8. From lines 28-43, you can infer that
the type of natural disaster the Inca
were most likely to experience was
a. floods
b. tornadoes
c. volcanic eruptions
d. hurricanes
e. earthquakes
3. Rubble (line 14) most nearly means
a. slums
b. debris
c. ashes
d. nothing
e. building blocks
9. Oblique (line 41) most nearly means
a. wide
b. sharp
c. unusual
d. sloping
e. straight
4. Longevity (line 15) is best defined as
a. long life
b. long halls
c. modern design
d. timeless beauty
e. lasting popularity
5. At the end of paragraph 1, the author
poses two questions (lines 14-20) that
a. are rarely discussed
b. cannot be answered
c. concern European scholars
d. provide a focus for the rest of the
passage
e. puzzled ancienl Native American
architects
6. The meaning of grapple with
(line 23) is
a. doubt
b. tackle
c. ignore
d. accept
e. Iron hook
10. Perspective (line 46) is best
defined as
a. topic
b. viewpoint
c. argument
d. variation
e. theory
11. According to the author, Native
American structures have all of the
following architectural features
EXCEPT
a. arches
b. stone walls
c. pyramid shapes
d. heavy, solid walls
e. angles and parallel lines
12. The author's attitude toward ancient
Native American builders is best
described as one of
a. criticism
b. sympathy
c. tolerance
d. bewilderment
e. admiration
~\WO~'D(STU DY
_
, .... '.
<"
(~r
'?
Select the pair of words that best completes the meaning
of the following sentences.
~~/LI&.
Icjloms
of each
,'cf'illfi\~
.
II!Ilh
"Mad as a March hare" is an idiom that means "showing little reason" or "foolish." An
idiom is a figure of speech; the words are not to be interpreted literally. Idioms are
informal expressions that are unique to every language. Although idioms are colorful
and expressive, they should be used sparingly in formal writing.
1. The TV marathon not only garnered
amounts of
money for Africa's starving millions but also yielded an unexpectedly rich
________
of publicity for their plight.
a. myriad ... rubble
b. legendary ... allotment
c. prodigious
d. bountiful
bonanza
banter
Choosing the Right Idiom
2. "If he weren't so rude, I'd be glad to
with him on the
project," I said. "But I don't think I can work with someone who always behaves in
such a
manner."
a. wrangle ... servile
c. banter ... relevant
b. collaborate ... churlish
d. vie .. '. congested
3. "A person has to expect a little accidental bumping and pushing in a crowded bus,"
I observed to my companion. "It's just not possible to avoid
_
another passenger when the center aisle is
with people."
a. maiming
devoid
c. minimizing ... glutted
b. grappling
elite
d. jostling ... congested
4. It isn't wise to give very young children toys that will break easily. They need
playthings that are
because they haven't yet learned to
handle fragile items
_
a. servile
b. durable
churlishly
gingerly
c. frugal ... willfully
d. prodigious ... wantonly
6. He was a man of great energy and
from relatively humble beginnings to the very
a. enterprise
citadels
c. longevity
b. compliance
perspectives
d. audacity
. In no time at all, he rose
of power.
antics
durables
6. If you are careless with your money, you will always be penniless. But it you are
_________
, you may be able to
a sizable
personal fortune.
a. bountiful ... evolve
c. frugal ... amass
b. enterprising ... maim
d. audacious ... preclude
7. The clownish
human, have won the hearts and
of delighted children.
a. banter ... bonanzas
b. antics, . , plaudits
of cartoon characters, both animal and
of many generations
c. adages ... vigils
d. tethers , , , decrees
In the passage about the World's Columbian Exposition (see'
pages ~2-33), the writer states that at least one person vi,ewed the
choice of Chicago as the host city as "mad as a March hare." I
Read each sentence. Use context clues
to
figure out the meaning of each idiom in
boldface print. Then write the letter of the definition for the idiom in the sentence.
.1
1. Although Jack was in agonizing pain, he kept a stiff
upper lip until the paramedics arrived.
_
a. someone who can't
be trusted
2. There were so many sales that I was able to buy this
dress for a song.
_
b. frustrated' after several
unsuccessful attempts
3. The boss thinks Eddie is a bad egg, and she wants
me to watch him closely.
_
c. at a low price;
for very little
~I
4. I've gone over the house with a fine tooth comb,
and I can't find my ring anywhere.
_
5. Ms. Robins is one smart cookie, so she's not going
to believe that the dog ate your homework.
_
d. payor contribute
some money
e. in agreement
f. postponed
6. My little nephews fight like cats and dogs, so I don't
enjoy babysitting them.
_
g. acted bravely or
showed no fear
7. Zander better expect to pony up if he wants to buy
that fancy motorcycle.
_
h. bicker; argue intensely
')
8. The tutor was banging his head against the wall
trying to explain algebra to me.
_
9. My best friend Brianna and I are always on the same
wavelength.
_
10. Unfortunately, the plans for the new pedestrian bridge
have been put on ice.
_
i. someone who is
easy to deceive
j. in great detail;
thoroughly
not
_t'''W) .'~J~·"m;'···";1W;r.lI!'··I!1
Wrltln
Ilt«!
101
Ith Idioms
fit,. IIIt·(IO/n.r; of
t'millcl/om.
eCch idiom. (Use
a
dictionary
if necessary.) Then write
a
When you look up a word's meaning in the dictionary,
you find the denotation. Denotation is the strict, literal
definition of a word. The meaning is neutral.
sentence
,1. get your feet wet
However, many words also have connotations, or feelings or emotions that people
associate with them. These feelings can be either positive or negative.
2. eat your heart out
Consider these synonyms for the neutral word bold.
ambitious
en,terprising
':<'1
a.
Think: Inventors are ambitious and enterprising, while a used
car salesman is aggressive and pushy.
6. throw in the towel
Look at these examples of words. Notice h~w the connotation of each word varies.
II'
Iron in the fire
~~-;-
7.
a.
pull yourself up by your own bootstraps
make heads or tails of something
9. got your number
10. knock your socks off
11. stick out your neck
(
Ambitious and enterprising have positive connotations, whereas aggressive and
pushy are negative.
hit the roof
4. keep a straight face
e.
pushy
aggressive
I. J
JJI
NEUTRAL
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
watchful
vigilant
spying
statement
decree
ultimatum
durable
enduring
never-ending
I'
Whether they are writing advertisements or novels. writers know that word.s can carry
powerful emotions. By being aware of the power of connotations. or "shades of
meaning," a reader can be more sensitive 'to the power of words to shape a message
and elicit an emotional response. Not everyone reacts in an identical way to the same
words, however. A skilled writer understands. that some words can evoke either. a
positive or a negative emotion in different readers.
Shades of Meaning
Write a plus sign (+) in the box if the word has a positive connotation.
Write a minus sign (-'~if the word has a negative connotation. Put a zero (0)
if the word is neutral.
1. adage
5. bonanza
12. walk on clouds
9. durable
13. maim
D
D
D
D
2. glut
6. allot
10. churlish
14. collaborate
D
D
D
D
3. bountiful
7. excerpt
11. oblique
15. detriment
D
D
D
D
4. congested
8. wanton
12. enterprising
16. unison
D
D
D
D
,.\\\\\l@
prrSRlng,the Connotation
/(I'lu/,'ad?
(polltlva,
Classt~arij)ots
sentence. Select the word in parentheses that better expresses the connotation
negative, or neutral) given at the beginning of the sentence.
vers, vert-to
positive
1. I consider myself to be a (frugal, stingy) shopper and buy most of my
clothes off-season.
negative
2. People who had been waiting for hours were outraged when a man
(brushed against, jostled) them on his way to the front of the line.
positive
3. Given her (daring, audacious) approach to life, I'm not surprised she
is always a topic of conversation!
neutral
4. Did you see that car (veer, turn) into the other lane without signaling?
neutral
5. Kathryn looks forward to book club meetings because she enjoys all
the (banter, conversation).
positive
6. Aunt Marla was excited to meet the (legendary, well-known)
movie star.
neutral
7. My mother is one of three local citizens who are (vying, grasping) fo'r
a seat on the school board.
negative
8. When you act like a (willful, rebellious) child, people will not react
positively toward you.
turn
controversy
conversant
.
This Latin root appears in revert (page 16), which means
"to return, to go back to a previous, or lower, oondition."
Some other words based on the same root aria listed below
reversal
traverse
inverse
pervert
verse
vertiginous
From the list of words above, choose the one that corresponds to each of the brief
definitions below. Write the word in the blank space in the illustrative sentence below
the definition. Use a dictionary if necessary.
1. familiar by use or study; acquainted ("turning with")
Before we remodeled our house, we sought expert advice from someone
_________
with the town's building code.
2. to turn away from the right course; to lead astray, distort ("thoroughly, utterly
tumed";
The defendant Was accused of paying bribes to try to
the justice system.
.,--_
' ..
3. a lengthy dispute (Ua turning against")
Challenge: USing Connotation
A new development in medical technology may spark a heated
__:;__...,....,- __
!
within th~ field.
_
Choose vocabulary words from Units 1-3 to replace the boldface words in the
sentences below. Then explain how the connotation of the replacement word changes
the tone of the sentence.
servile
incognito
groping
tethered
4. to travel across; to cross and recross; to extend over
We plan to
the countryside by bicycle this summer.
skittish
prodigious
1. Tossed into a dark cell, the prisoner bumped around, feeling
for the walls and the door.
5. whirling or spinning; tending to make dizzy; affected by or suffering from dizziness
The
of all ages.
-:::
rides in amusement parks are popular with children
,S
6. turnedupside down or inside out; referring to a relationship in which one item
increases
the other decreases
Division
2. Not only was William Blake a great
artist as well.
IS
the
of multiplication.
poet, he was a talented
7. a change or overthrow; a change of fortune (usually for the worse), setback
The press critIcized the Supreme Court's
court's decision.
3. Many of the animals that were typically playful and trusting became bashful
_________
after the hurricane.
of the state
8. a line of poetry; poetic writing ("a turning, as of a line")
..
The teacher asked each student to recite a
favorite poem.
of a