Vocabulary Smack-Down!!

1. Vocabulary Vocabulary Smack-Down!! DOWN Hosted By: Mrs. Morris and Ms. Stone Hosted By: Mrs. Morris and Ms.Stone

2. Rules • The class will be divided into 2 groups. • Every person in each group must answer a question (or more depending on the size of the class) • Group members may NOT talk to each other unless their team is answering the bonus question. If members are caught talking, the team will be disqualified for that question. • The team member who “smacks” his/her hand on the table first will have the opportunity to answer the question. (Note: You must have an answer IMMEDIATELY once you smack the table. You will not have the opportunity to look at the board!) If the team gets the question wrong, the other team may answer. • The team member who answers the question correctly will have an opportunity to answer the bonus question. If they get it right, they earn half a point bonus for their entire group. If they get it wrong, the other team may answer. If the other team gets the bonus correct, they get the bonus credit AND also steal the other team’s point!

3. 1. Some people think these books are silly, or frivolous, works to be read only for entertainment.In the above sentence, frivolous most likely means: • Silly • Stupid • Good • Artistic • Pure Bonus: Which comma formula does this sentence follow?

4. 2. Frightening the reader with the sudden appearance of an apparition, a technique often used in the Gothic novel, paved the way for today’s horror stories and films.Based on the context, we can infer that the word apparition most likely means • The discovery of a dead body in the library • An adventure on the moors • A ghost or supernatural being • The return of a missing person • A Gothic novel Bonus: What is the main verb in this sentence?

5. 3. The first example of the Gothic romance is Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, in which the lovely Isabella and her true love Theodore are threatened by the unscrupulous villain, Manfred, who rules the land of Otranto. Manfred has no right to rule, but he is determined to hold on to his power.We can infer from the passage that an unscrupulous villain is • Legal • Dishonest and immoral • Powerless and corrupt • Friendly and helpful • Dirty Bonus: Unscrupulous functions as which part of speech in this sentence?

6. 4. As a result, she remains aloof. He thinks she is cold and unfriendly.Based on the context, aloof most likely means • Friendly • Outgoing • Angry • Distant • Caring Bonus: This sentence follows which comma formula?

7. 5. Horror, violence, and other sinister elements are the chief characteristics of the Gothic novel.The writer tells us that sinister may mean wicked or evil by: • Indicating that the Gothic novel has several elements • Telling us that the Gothic novels are frightening • Informing us that horror and violence are examples of sinister elements • Implying that sinister stories are particularly common in medieval romance • Defining the word sinister Bonus: This sentence follows which comma formula?

8. 6. She may be sweet and docile or impulsive and quick-tempered, but in either case there has to be something plaintive about her, something sad that will make the reader feel sorry for her.The writer provides a clue to the meaning of docile by • Indicating that sweet and docile are synonyms • Showing the female character’s weakness • Explaining the formula • Contrasting the word docile with the word sweet • Telling us that the female character is the focus of the action Bonus: Which type of sentence is the example above? (S, CP, CX, CPCX)

9. 7. She may be sweet and docile or impulsive and quick-tempered, but in either case there has to be something plaintive about her, something sad that will make the reader feel sorry for her.In the passage, plaintive means • Poor • Quick-tempered • Sad • Sweet • Entertaining Bonus: Underline the independent clauses in the sentence above.

10. 8. Their future is threatened, however, by Thorne’s nasty ex-fiancee who seethes, or boils, with anger when she discovers that Thorne loves another woman.When the writer tells us that Thorne’s ex-fianceeseethes with anger, we should realize that she • Will not be angry for very long • Will have serious problems because someone is angry with her • Is so angry that the emotion seems to be boiling inside her • Is pretending to be angry • Has never been so angry before in her life Bonus: In the sentence above, seethes functions as which part of speech?

11. 9. But one attribute, or characteristic, that much of science fiction shares with Lucian's ancient space story is that it involves a fantastic journey.When we are told that Lucian's The True History and science fiction share an attribute, we should realize that they • Have a common characteristic • Are both ancient • Are both tributes • Are exactly alike in every way • Are both about a long journey Bonus: In the sentence above, one functions as which part of speech?

12. 10. Wells' tales of Martian invaders and time travel are not only entertaining but also relevant to readers' lives because they address current social issues.The writer provides a clue to the meaning of relevant by telling us that • Wells’ stories address current social issues • Wells’ stories are about Martian invaders and time travel • Wells was writing at the same time that Verne was • Wells is important to the history of English Literature • Wells related science to the unknown Bonus: Which type of sentence is the example above? (S, CP, CX, CPCX)

13. 11. Because writers have so many different settings, plots, and characters available to them, science fiction is unlikely to become stagnant. The writers can always find ways to make their stories fresh and alive.According to the passage, science fiction writing is unlikely to become stagnant because • Science fiction is growing in popularity • Humans will always come into conflict with nonhumans • So many people write science fiction • Science fiction is always attracting new readers • Science fiction is kept fresh with new ideas Bonus: Underline the dependent clause in the first sentence.

14. 12. Romances of the Middle Ages led eventually to strange, morbid stories about death and evil– the kind of stories we associate with Edgar Allan Poe.In the passage, some mystery tales are described as morbid because they are • Romances • Related to science fiction stories • Stories of death and evil • Entertaining • Dull Bonus: In the sentence above, the word eventually functions as which part of speech?

15. 13. These mystery stories are ominous tales– they threaten danger and misfortune and set our pulses racing.In the passage, ominous means • Threatening • Boring • Ridiculous • Television • Blended Bonus: The writer chose to use a dash between the two sentences above. Which punctuation mark would also work here? Why? (Hint: Not a period)

16. 14. Discovering the murderer is the high point, or culmination, of the story.To provide a clue to the meaning of culmination, the writer • Tells us that the reader cannot guess who the murderer is • Implies that culmination means the same thing as murderer • Tells us that detective stories are true • Indicates that the words high point and culmination are synonyms • Implies that culmination is a synonym for a whodunit crime story Bonus: How many articles are in the sentence above?

17. 15. Part of the fun of reading a detective story is being tricked, so most of the clues are designed to be easy to misconstrue.To misconstrue means to misinterpret. According to the passage, why are the clues in detective fiction easy to misconstrue? • The clues are provided only for the detective • The reader is not given very many clues • Writers of detective fiction are naturally confused • Detective fiction is designed to trick the reader • The reader may miss an important clue Bonus: Which type of sentence is the example above? (S, CP, CX, CPCX)

18. 16. With these tricks, the clever writer can manipulate the reader into believing that any one of the characters could have committed the murder.In the passage, what does it mean to manipulate the reader? • Tell the reader the truth • Trick the reader • Inform the reader • Lie to the reader • Create a mystery Bonus: In the sentence above, the word tricks functions as which part of speech?

19. 17. This strikes the reader as shocking, but eventually the preposterous, or ridiculous, charges are dropped, and the real killer is exposed.We can infer from the passage that preposterous charges are likely to • Be charges of murder • Shock the reader • Be ridiculous charges • Make the story more interesting • Be striking Bonus: In the sentence above, the word this functions as which part of speech?

20. 18. The American western, for example, often pits diligent settlers, working hard to build farms and schools, against a greedy cattle baron and his hired gunslingers– contemptible men interested in nothing but their own well-being.In the passage, which phrase provides a clue to the meaning of diligent? • “the western, for example” • “nothing but their own well-being” • “working hard to build farms and schools” • “against the greedy cattle baron” • “contemptible men” Bonus: In the sentence above, find the antecedent for the pronoun “their.”

21. 19. The American western, for example, often pits diligent settlers, working hard to build farms and schools, against a greedy cattle baron and his hired gunslingers– contemptible men interested in nothing but their own well-being.When the writer describes the cattle baron and his gunslingers as contemptible, we should realize that they are • Mean and hateful • Hardworking • Easily tempted • Fictional characters • Easily fooled Bonus: In the sentence above, the greedy cattle baron is the antecedent for which pronoun?

22. 20. Movies have given us some wonderful opportunities to cheer the virtuous hero and boo the malicious villain.The writer provides a clue to the meaning of malicious by • Using the word cheer • Contrasting the virtuous hero with the malicious villain • Contrasting malicious with diligent • Discussing western movies • Emphasizing only the virtuous heroes of western fiction Bonus: Which type of sentence is the example above? (S, CP, CX, CPCX)