www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html The GENUINE CollegeBoard site gives basic info. about format, use, and administration of the test. It also offers opportunities for practical practice. (Scroll down past links for messages and VocabuTales!)
www.number2.com BEST test prep site in class! MUST DO FOR WORKSHOP!
www.quizlab.com For a plethora of practice, check out our quiz file at FUNBRAIN.COM's Quizlab. The magic word is 04psatws. MUST DO!
Welcome to our VIRTUAL ABODE. Here you will find a PLETHORA (an abundance) of GERMANE (relevant) information --vocabulary in context, flashcard for drill [click "flashcards" in box above], and links, links, LINKS!--to assist you in your VALIANT QUEST to achieve the ever-so-possible dream, a 200+ on your PSAT.
Got a QUERY? With a quick click on the site's email function, you've got PERPETUAL access to our assistance. (But be sure to include your name and email address. The reply button won't work!) We are, after all, willing THRALLS -- VASSALS in the service of the EXPONENTIAL AUGMENTATION of your PSAT vocabulary score. With apologies to the Beatles, we KNOW you can "get by with a little SUCCOR (help, relief, assistance, aid) from your INTIMATES (close friends)..." --Hit the refrigerator, you FAMISHED (starved) fools. We said SUCCOR, not SUPPER! You'll find only mental "munchies" here in cyberspace -- virtual VICTUALS ...PROVERBIAL "food for thought," ...COPIOUS COMESTIBLES of context and connotation which will provide AMPLE intellectual SUSTENANCE!
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ASSIGNMENTS:
* only for those who didn't take June Practice PSAT on the 14th or 21st
TABLE #11: THE EATING LIONS are responsible for our breaktime REPAST. Bring SUCCULENT MORSELS for a CULINARY perk for ASSIDUOUS work!
1. Deliver gold note and get parent's signature on pink sheet.
2. MATH:
A. Yellow worksheet
B. Study formulas for quiz Wed.
*C. Sec. 2, PSAT Practice Test
3. WRITING: *Sec. 5, PSAT Practice Test
4. VOCABULARY:
A. Download MVP Vocabulary Powerpoint (The Mighty Prefix, Roots and Branches, and Synonym Clusters Parts 1, II, and III are together in a single PPT.)
B. Work FLASHCARDS.
C. Read and download tonight's VocabuTale.
D. Read the sample parodies and brainstorm for your own (due Fri.)
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Now here are some SUCCULENT vocabulary MORSELS to SAVOR in a little self-test. PERUSE it and answer to yourself.
#1: When was the last time you used these three words???????
JINGOIST: super patriot----Charles Foster Kane in Citizen Kane (a movie you MUST see if you have not!) or Wm. Randolph Hearst in reality REDOUBTABLE: formidable, fearsome----Wm. Wallace in Braveheart (a good one, too!)
DIFFIDENCE: Cher in Clueless when she figures out a.) she loves Josh, b.) she really IS clueless (Jane Austin's Emma). If your answer = "never," go to QUESTION...#2.
#2: When you think of your vocabulary, do you feel LUGUBRIOUS, MELANCHOLY, DOLEFUL, MOROSE.........DEJECTED, DISPIRITED, DISCONSOLATE, DESPONDENT........SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL, or ALL OF THE ABOVE?
#3. When your teacher describes your vocabulary, which of these terms does he or she employ?
PEDESTRIAN, PROSAIC, MUNDANE .......TRITE, BANAL, HACKNEYED, CLICHE........CIRCUMSCRIBED, SCANTY, NIGGARDLY, NARROW............DIMUNITIVE, MINUTE, INFINITESIMAL........PALTRY, PISSANT, WEAK.....TRIVIAL, INSIGNIFICANT, or ALL OF THE ABOVE?
#4. Is said description always followed followed by a SCATHING or CAUSTIC REBUKE, REPRIMAND, REPROVAL, REPROACH, REMONSTRATION, ADMONITION, CENSURE, or ALL OF THE ABOVE?
#5. When Mrs. Findley passes out the Faulkner, will you find his sentences BAFFLING, PERPLEXING, filled with ENIGMATIC idioms and CRYPTIC terms? Will you find him INSCRUTABLE? If so, be forewarned. I fear you'll also find Mrs. Findley most IRASCIBLE and UNRELENTING. You just THINK you've been through the wringer. Get ready for harsh REMONSTRANCE and STRINGENT standards! JUST WAIT! (It's gonna' be grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!!!!!!!!!!!!)
#6. When you try to be CONCISE and SUCCINCT are you merely TERSE and TACITURN?
#7. Would you instead like to be
--LOQUACIOUS but not VERBOSE,
--GARRULOUS but not PRATTLING,
--EMPHATIC but not BOMBASTIC,
--VIVID but not FLORID?
#8.Would you like to AMELIORATE your diction deficits, thereby MITIGATING your vocabulary problems and our fears of Mrs. Findley's INTREPID, yea, DAUNTLESS red pen, while SIMULTANEOUSLY increasing your potential PSAT/NMSQT score EXPONENTIALLY?
If so, REJOICE and TAKE HEART! For this course offers you an unparalleled opportunity to AUGMENT,, ENRICH, and ENLARGE your LEXICON. But not if you are DESULTORY or DILATORY. Don't TEMPORIZE or PROCRASTINATE! IF you do as we ask in this workshop (and, of course, in the class) -- If you are INDUSTRIOUS, ASSIDUOUS, and INDEFATIGABLE, your vocabulary will be more than PROFICIENT when we finish.
Mrs. Findley will, in hushed tones, describe it in these AUGUSTand exalted terms:- BOUNTIFUL, AMPLE, ABUNDANT..........COPIOUS, PRODIGIOUS, a SURFEIT, a PLETHORA! PROFOUND, CATHOLIC, COMPREHENSIVE..........PEERLESS, SURPASSING, INCOMPARABLE, INIMITABLE! You shall BASK in the warm glow of ACCLAIM and ADULATION, public APPROBATION! PLAUDITS, KUDOS, ENCOMIUMS, and FELICITATIONS! You'll be ELATED, EXHILARATED, EBULLIENT, EXUBERANT! Imagine, Mrs. Findley LAUDING and EXTOLLING your VOLUMINOUS vocabulary. Why, the thrill of National Merit pales beside the thought of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, are we "PUMPED" or what? Let's GO! You'll find "201 WORDS YOU ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY HAVE TO KNOW" ready to go as flashcards. Practice for next time by clicking on "FLASHCARDS" above. Explore these links at your leisure. THEN when you are ready for bed, check out the following VOCABULARY TALE. We'll be providing you with nightly bedtime stories which you may COPY and PRINT OUT to put into your notebook for contextual practice. Tonight's installment, brought to you by the Letter "A," is . . .
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THE AUDACIOUS AARDVARK
The AUDACIOUS (daring, bold) aardvark was rooting around in the grass for some lunch with which to ASSUAGE (relieve, lessen) his hunger when his ADROIT(dexterous, agile, nimble) friend Bob the baboon waddled up with ALACRITY (eager willingness, celerity) and ACCOSTED (approached) him. "Hey Man," Bob said, beginning an ALTERCATION (noisy or heated dispute). "Why do you ABASE (lower) yourself in that ATYPICAL (not standard,uncharacteristic) way? I ADVOCATE(support) the AGILE (nimble) use of a knife and fork."
"You are an ass," the aardvark replied politely. "It would be more AESTHETICALLY (appealing to the sense of beauty) pleasing if I were to eat that way, but the use of utensils would be too AFFECTED (put on, faked, a pretense) for a simple aardvark. In addition, I am AVERSE (opposed, disinclined) to such an idea because it might ALLEVIATE (relieve, lessen) my acne, which looks good on me."
"That has to be the APEX (height, zenith) of stupidity," Bob said, AGHAST (in horrified amazement). "And while we're on the subject of your appearance, I must ask you why you are so APATHETIC (disinterested, indifferent) about your hygiene. At least you could AMELIORATE (make better) your looks and odor by taking a bath."
"Never ALLUDE (refer) to my ALLEGED (asserted without evidence, presumed) AVERSION (feeling of strong dislike) to cleanliness again," the aardvark said with AUSTERITY (severity, sternness). "May I remind you that even with your nearly ANTHROPOID (manlike) form, you still pick lice out of strangers' hair."
Sensing that the conversation had gone AWRY (amiss, off the right course) and feeling ABASHED (disconcerted, self-conscious or ashamed), Bob's (daring, boldness) ABATED (subsided, lessened), and he to began to AMASS (collect, pile up) a pile of grubs from the grass.
The characters in this story are entirely fictitious. Any resemblance to real people,or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Berger, Larry et al. UP YOUR SCORE: THE UNDERGROUND GUIDE TO THE SAT, New York, Workman, 1998.
GOODNIGHT from your PSINCERELY PSERIOUS PSAT PEDAGOGUES
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1. prep for FINAL JEOPARDY!
2. Finish "MOVE IT" (Do NOW Vocabulary)
3. Work vocab. & online!
4. Study Pernicious Pairs & SC Tactics.
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Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSATer:
One thing PSAT Workshops lack is LONGEVITY (long life). They seem LILLIPUTIAN (minute, extremely small) in comparison with regular school, don’t they? We LAMENT (mourn, grieve) their EPHEMERAL (quickly passing, transient) nature, and we LOATHE (detest) losing you. As somebody named Will once noted, Parting is INDEED such sweet sorrow! Let us CAPITALIZE (take advantage of, make the most of) the brief time together which remains.
We can hardly wait for the morrow when you showcase your voluminous vocabularies and scintillating wit in staed vignettes! Remember, we plan to preseve your performance for posterity through photography!
And now for tonight’s bedtime VocabuTale here’s........
An Open and Frank Note from the Authors
With such words in this list as LEWD (indecent, obscene) , LICENTIOUS (immoral, morally wild or sexually unrestrained), and LECHEROUS (lewd, lustful) in the L’s, you’re probably looking forward to a great story. Well, you won’t find one here, but not because we were too LACKADAISICAL (uncaring, lacking in interest or spirit) or LANGUID ((lacking energy, weak). We actually did write a pretty LASCIVIOUS (lusty, lewd) one, but instead of LAUDING (praising) it, the editor LOATHED (hated) it. After she read it, she LITHELY (gracefully, supplely, limberly) LAMBASTED (thrashed, mauled, beat, whipped, or bludgeoned with big things and other than fun stuff; to scold sharply or rebuke) us with LETHAL (deadly) cans of lima beans ( We suspect they were obtained through LARCENY), lacerating our ligaments. This made us a bit LUGUBRIOUS (mournful or sad), but we were willing to LUCUBRATE (study hard and in a scholarly fashion) some more and come up with a new story. But when she LACONICALLY (briefly, tersely, concisely, succinctly) called us ‘LIMACINE (pertaining to or resembling a slug -- This word won’t be on the test, but you may find it useful, particularly if you have younger siblings) idiots,” we left, suddenly overcome by our LATENT (potential but not yet displayed) LETHARGY (sluggishness, indifference), LANGUOR (sluggishness, lack of energy), and LASSITUDE (listlessness, state of exhaustion or weakness). And so, in protest, we didn’t do an L story. Humblest apologies. We hope you will forgive us.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
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ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Study ALL Pernicious Pairs!
2. YELLOW Sheet - MATH!
3 SENTENCE COMPLETION Blues (2 sheets)
4. Learn skit lines.
5. Work ONLINE.
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSATer,
I'm afraid your RACONTEURS are a bit LACONIC (of few words) tonight. Tonight's tale is the tale of the JADED JINGOIST. It's CONCISE, SUCCINCT, yes, even TERSE, but not PROSAIC or PEDESTRIAN in the least!
For the CLASSIC poop (or EXCREMENT for those of you with SCATALOGICAL fixations) on the ULTIMATE JADED JINGOIST, go to Blockbuster and rent Citizen Kane, Orson Wells' masterpiece based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, America's most famous jingoist.
Well-educated people "in the know" experience no PERPLEXITY when other equally well-versed individuals ALLUDE to "ROSEBUD." If you don't "get it," read this first for your vocabulary's sake, then rush right out to get IT (Citizen Kane) for cultural literacy's sake! If you'd like to read more about this LANDMARK film, this cinematic WATERSHED, go to
http://www.filmsite.org/citi.html. If you'd like to borrow a copy of the video, come by Room A-186.
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CRIME DOESN'T PAY .........brought to you by the letters J and K!
The JINGOIST (extreme patriot) became JADED (wearied, especially by too much of the good life). He didn't feel as JOCOSE (merry, joking), JOCULAR (jolly, joking), or JOCUND (merry, jolly) as he once did. Eventually, he turned to KNAVERY (dishonest, mischievous dealing) , robbing from KIOSKS (pavilion or small open booth where items are bought or sold). It was KISMET (fate)that he got caught. It takes a little KEN (range of knowledge) to be a KLEPTOMANIAC (compulsive thief) -- a lesson for us all!
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
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ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Learn you lines for the SKIT!
2. SENTENCE COMPLETION Blues! Be ready to go over Sec. 1 & 3 on test.
3. Study #1-50 on PERNICIOUS PAIRS.
4. Work that VOCAB. ONLINE, CARDS, etc! Tonight's VocabuTale features some NOTABLE (if not EMINENT in this case -- the title IS "6 Irascible Fools") PSATers. Perhaps you; certainly your COLLEAGUES!
5. Geometry ball is coming. Learn those formulas!
Let this message be absolutely PERSPICUOUS! If you wish to avoid an IMPASSE on your CRITICAL READING PSAT, you must be an INDOMITABLE student with an INSATIABLE intellectual appetite and an IMPECCABLE vocabulary! You also need to be INDEFATIGABLE in your efforts at mastering group dynamics. (Remember.....performance date for skits by EMINENT students = IMMINENT! Here’s hoping that the light of verbal excellence will EMINATE from you all!)
SIX IRASCIBLE FOOLS
Bria, Sonum, Zack, Drew, Landin, and Mark were traveling INCOGNITO (in disguise) in the INCOMMODIOUS (lacking space, not commodious) bus. They had reached an IMPASSE (dead end) in their INDOMITABLE (unconquerable, impossible to dominate) attempts to think of sentences for the PSAT "I's" and were nearly INSENSATE (unconscious, lacking sensation) with INDOLENCE (laziness).
"Hey, Mark, do you have any INGENIOUS (original, resourceful) ideas for 'INSCRUTABLE (enigmatic, difficult to understand),' you INEPT (incompetent) fool?" Zack inquired.
Mark's face remained IMPASSIVE (without emotion, expressionless). "You know you're just INCITING (arousing, instigating) me to anger with your INSIPID (lacking excitement, VAPID) INVECTIVE (abusive put-down). If you continue this IMPROPRIETY (improper, without displaying propriety) , this INVIDIOUS (offensive, making people angry) behavior, I'll become IRASCIBLE (easily provoked, irritable)."
"Are we to infer that you are questioning Zack’s IMPECCABLE (flawless and faultless) integrity by implying that he acted in an IGNOBLE (not noble) manner?" Bria interjected INGENUOUSLY (innocently, showing childlike simplicity) "I'm sure he couldn't stand the IGNOMINY (dishonor, disgrace)."
"If you all don't shut up, I'll be forced to IMPALE (to pierce with a sharp stake or point) you. Especially since you IMBIBED (drank in, absorbed) my iodine," Sonum shouted.
"There seems to be an INSIDIOUS (working or spreading stealthily, sneaking inside to do something bad -- NOT to be confused with "INVIDIOUS") force at work among us," Drew added. "Our INCONTROVERTIBLY (indisputably) INSATIABLE (impossible to satisfy) desire to help our fellow PSAT scholars is failing!"
"But what, ho!" Landin exclaimed. "I believe our destination is IMMINENT (about to occur, impending)."
So the bus stopped, and they got off, continuing to argue INCESSANTLY (nonstop, ceaselessly).
adapted from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Undergrounnd Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
FOOD ALERT: Group #10 -- The Fresh Prince of Wal-Mart -- Don't forget the SUCCULENT MORSELS for our break-time REPAST!
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ASSIGNMENT:
1. Finish SKIT script for turn-in (digital and hard copies).
2. USAGE Take-Home test.
3. OBLIVIOUS - Episode #2,
4. Work that VOCAB!!!! (We don't want another ABYSMAL Joepardy performance!)
5. Prepare to IMPERSONATE one of the PEOPLE YOU MEET ON THE PSAT and to recognize 46 others!
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Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSATer,
KUDOS and PLAUDITS to THUNDERCATS, HO! for DOMINATING today's Vocabulary Jeopardy. The vocabulary DREGS (leftovers at the bottom of the bottle) need to get crackin'!
On to Vocabulary Tale H. . . .After you've read about the ill-fated HOMILY (sermonlike speech) of the HIRSUIT (hairy) priest below,
Remember that merely desiring (even EARNESTLY) a spiking score will not SUFFICE (be sufficient or enough). To achieve a point PRECIPICE (high point, brink), you must exert the INDOMITABLE (that which cannot be controlled or dominated) will and personal discipline required to do your DISCOMMODING (causing inconvenience, disturbing) and DISCOMFITING (disconcerting, confusing) daily drill!
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THE HOMILY
The HIRSUTE (hairy) young priest was preparing his HOMILY (sermonlike speech), and he needed advice from the HOARY (gray or white from age, old) HAGGARD (wasted, worn) pastor.
"I gotta give a good talk so I can move up in the church HIERARCHY (social structure, social pecking order)," he explained. "Can you help me?"
"You speak on HALLOWED (holy, sacred) ground," the pastor began," so don't HARANGUE (mean, nasty, angry speech or tirade) and be not HAUGHTY (proud, vain, arrogant). Don't forget to condemn HEINOUS (grossly wicked, vile, odious) HEDONISM (philosophy of trying to be happy all the time; a funky state of being in which you do your own thing and don't worry about morality), though. A good public response to your sermon will be a HARBINGER (forerunner, something that signals the approach of something, omen) of your advancement." The priest worked all night, searching for HACKNEYED (overused, trite)expressions and hip HOMONYMS (word that sounds like another word but has a different meaning). But when dawn came, he just said, "Oh, the heck with it."
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
This HYPOTHETICAL (not actual, but supposed) tale and the HUFFY HULABALOO are brought to you through the HERCULEAN (requiring great strength) efforts of the TEST-SKILLS TRIUMVIRATE
FRIDAY and SATURDAY (7/11/ & 7/12/08)
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSATEer,
PSAT WORKSHOP PRACTICE TEST AWARDS: All glory, LAUD (praise), and honor to these PERSPICACIOUS PSATers who should BASK in the glow of public APPROBATION:
THE 200 CLUB
Mark
Neal
Landin
Carley
MOST IMPROVED SELECTION INDEX
Jordan + 46 – AMAZING!
Mark +34
Christa +33
MOST IMPROVED CRITICAL READING
Mark +20
Jordan +20
Christa +13
MOST IMPROVED MATH
Landin +11
Emily + 11
Sonum +10
Alex +10
MOST IMPROVED WRITING
Jordan +22
Mark +21
Josh +18
Rebecca +18
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ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Study for QUIZZES;
A. USAGE
B. PERNICIOUS PAIRS (Use purple sheets + Notable Confusables link below.
2. Do Math Worksheet.
3. Work online at Number2.com.
4. Practice vocabulary with flashcards, lists, crosswords, links, and readings. VOCABULARY JEOPARDY is coming!
5. Read a minimum of 30 min. a day. (If you haven't read the excerpt from FIVE EQUATIONS THAT CHANGED THE WORD, get busy!)
6. Skit scripts = due Tues.
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Now for a bedtime story from your favorite RACONTEUR (excellent story teller).........Heeeeeeeeeeeer's SATURDAY'S VocabuTALE.
Installment F in our Vocabulary Tales is a very FISHY tale indeed. (Smells kinda' PISCINE -- fishlike. It is designed to FORTIFY your PSAT vocabulary. (We're not being FACETIOUS here!) If you can't read it with FACILITY and w/o FALTERING, fill the FISSURES in your knowledge by FAMILIARIZING yourself with the parenthetical information provided.
FRED THE FILCHER
Freddy has a FLAGRANT (deliberately conspicuous, glaring) FOIBLE (weakness, flaw). He FILCHED (stole) fish, sometimes with FERVOR (passion) and sometimes with FORBEARANCE (patience), but he never FLUCTUATED (made irregular variation) from his FORTE (strong point -- pronounced FOR-tay). One day his mother, returning from the garden -- which was FECUND (fertile) with fish remains -- said FACETIOUSLY (joking or jesting) , "Freddy, is it FEASIBLE (workable, plausible, possible) that you'll FOMENT (stir up, agitate, incite) a FETID (smelly) FULMINATION (explosion, roar, loud denouncement) of fish odor if you continue to FRENETICALLY (frenzied, frantic) FLAUNT (show off) your FILCHING habits?"
FROWARD (stubborn, obdurate) Freddy frowned. "That is a FATUOUS (inane, foolish) as well as FALLACIOUS (false, incorrect) suggestion." Then he uttered the following FASTIDIOUSLY (careful about details, impossible to satisfy) crafted rationalization. "This FACET (side, aspect, or face of something) of my abilities is not FUTILE (completely ineffective) , as it provides fish for our otherwise FRUGAL (sparing in expense, stingy, miserly) dinner. You should FAWN (grovel, be overly admiring)over me, not FULMINATE against me."
The preceding story is FICTITIOUS (false, not genuine), FABRICATED (invented or made up often in order to deceive) by the authors.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
------------FRIDAY'S TALE------------- (A thousand pardons for our failure to post last night. Mrs. Shivers forgot to hit SAVE.
Today we explore VOCABULARY through VEGETABLES. (That means we'll use FLORA as opposed to FAUNA). PERUSE installment E in our Vocabulary Tales -- that's "E" for "EDIFICATION"!
ESSAY ON EGGPLANT
I want to know which ERUDITE (scholarly) vegetable maker invented eggplant. If he is dead, I will EXHUME (disinter, to remove from a grave) his coffin and EFFACE (erase, rub out) the EPITAPH (memorial text carved on a tombstone) from his tombstone. If he is alive, I will burn him in EFFIGY (dummy or mannequin, usually for symbolic torturing--you know......like the Brits do to Guy Fawkes every year!) and ensure he will not be EULOGIZED (speech of praise at one's funeral) when he dies. Eggplant is the EPITOME (something that perfectly represents an entire class of things; embodiment -- pronounced eh-PIT-oh-me) of bad vegetables and its destruction is EXIGENT (urgent, requiring immediate attention) . I ESCHEW (avoid, shun) eating it. Its badness is almost ETHEREAL (not of the material world) . I would rather become EMACIATED (excessively thin, weak) than eat eggplant. This is an EXACTING (demanding) demand, but would someone please EDIFY (enlighten, educate) me, without being ESOTERIC (known only by a few people) or EQUIVOCAL (ambiguous, capable of two interpretations) , as to one good thing about eggplant? It's mushy, it has seeds, it makes my tongue itch, it has a dopey name, and it tastes like the droppings that an EQUESTRIAN (pertaining to horsemen or horsemanship)slob forgot to clean up. I wish all the soil on the world's eggplant farms would ERODE (to diminish or destroy by small amounts) . Just thinking about eggplant makes me EFFETE (tired, barren, decadent), Oh and get this -- when eggplants fertilize each other, the round ones with lots of seeds are the female ones and the long, narrow ones are the males. And they do it EBULLIENTLY (bubbly, overflowing with excitement) in public, in front of all the other vegetables. What would happen if humans EMULATED (to imitate closely) this behavior?
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
KNOW YOUR FOOD GROUPS -- Friday 's = Goody Groups = #2 & 9 (Ultimate Peanut Butter Knights and Yellow Frisbee OEC Pizza-Eating Ironmen) We're expecting
BIG THINGS in the SUCCULENT MORSEL Department!
PSAT skills MUST be practiced. Were you listening in class? Ms. D's INCISIVE (cutting to the heart of the matter) analysis is correct. You have demonstrated SCINTILLATING (sparkling) intellects; now where's that INDOMITABLE WILL??
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ASSIGNMENTS.........
DRESS UP '70s STYLE FOR FUN & PRIZES! (C'mon! We know that every party has a pooper....Just don't let it be YOU!
1. MATH - Roots & Exponents
2. PARODY = due (both digital copy in rich text and hard copy)
3. READING - 30 min. nonfiction mimimum!
A. '70s handout for tomorrow
B. Read other handouts (satirical & serious)
C. Nightly VocabuTale
4. WRITING - SAT Section
5. VOCABULARY
A. Flashcards
B. Email Mysteries
C. Number2.com - VOCABULARY "THROW-DOWN"! You'll need 5,193 words to take down Johnny Shih's record. Better COMMENCE (begin) with CELERITY (speed) if not ALACRITY (cheerfully willing speediness)!
D. VocabuTale
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Now for your Nighty-night VocabuTale...........It focuses on BIG "D" WORDS!
THE DISTRAUGHT DOGCATCHER
Dan was DISTRAUGHT (anxious, worried, distressed). He knew he'd soon have to go up to the DAIS (raised platform) and declare his candidacy for dogcatcher. He knew he was DEVOID (completely lacking, void, empty, without)of charisma and not a DYNAMIC (energetic, vigorous, forceful) speaker. He wasn't even DEXTEROUS (adroit or skillful in the use of hands or body) at catching canines. Doubtless, he would DEBASE (to lower in quality or value, adulterate) himself by speaking like a DERANGED (having a severe mental disorder, being insane) fool.
Trying to appear DAUNTLESS (bold), he shambled forward with a DEARTH (scarcity, paucity) of enthusiasm. He tried to picture his audience all in DIAPHANOUS (translucent, gossamer) gowns, but it did not help his mood at all.
"Ahem," he began, but was DETERRED (prevented or discouraged from happening) from continuing when he DESCRIED discerned, caught sight of something which is difficult to catch sight of) the DIABOLICAL (fiendish, devilish, nastily scheming) Great Dane that was rapidly DEPLETING (lessening the supply or content of) his audience by devouring them. Feeling this DEVASTATION (ruin by violent action) might DEROGATE (detract, take away from) his speech, Dan's thoughts were thrown into sudden DISCORD (lack of harmony), and he felt a DRASTIC (severe) need to DEFENESTRATE (the act of throwing something out of the window -- It's HIGHLY unlikely you'll see this on the PSAT. However, you may wish to DEFENESTRATE your PSAT Proctor!) himself. Using himself as a DECOY (lure or bait) to get the beast's attention, he DEMURRED (objected mildly), "ummmmmm. . . please stop!" People DISCERNED (detected by use of the senses) his foolishness.
Later that day, a supporter DISPARAGED (belittled, reduced in esteem) Dan's speech. "It was rather DESULTORY (aimless, rambling, haphazard, disconnected). DIVERS (several) DIVERSE (distinct, varied, differing) rumors have been DISSEMINATED (dispensed or distributed) that he is DEPRAVED (morally corrupt, debased, perverted). We'll have trouble DELUDING (deceiving) the public into believing the contrary."
As ever, DEPLETING the dictionary in the service of EXPONENTIALLY expanding your vocabulary,
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KNOW YOUR FOOD GROUPS -- Thursday's = Goody Group = #4 (Sanjaya-Hawk Donut-Holes)
ASSIGNMENTS.........
1. Teach Dave Barry some more big words!
2. Writing Handout
3. *Sec. 4 - MATH (mc & grid-ins)
4. Work on PARODY (due Fri.)
5. Check email and website.
6. Get costume together for Fri - It's THAT 70's DAY!
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You're AMAZING.......Check your email to find out just HOW!
Tonight’s VocabuTale letter is “C.”
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A MYSTERY
It was one of those steamy nights when the sky is lousy with stars. I was enjoying a CATHARTIC (cleansing, allowing a release of tension or emotion) CEREBRATION (thought) and CULLING (selecting, weeding out) the blue M & M’s CACHE in the office of the Sure-Lock Homes Locksmith and Detective Agency. Suddenly, my COGITATIONS (ruminations, deep and careful thinking) were interrupted by a CACOPHONOUS (sounding discordant, terrible and generally unpleasant to listen to, opposite of “euphonious”) sound and a cataclysmic vibration that reverberated through my CAPACIOUS (spacious) office. I stepped with CIRCUMSPECTION (prudence, caution) into the hall because I was afraid someone might be up to some CHICANERY (trickery). I found a CHAOTIC (utter confusion) scene: a CORPULENT (obese, fat bodied) man lying CONTORTED (twisted, bent) at the bottom of the stairs. Blood was gushing though a wound in his side, and I could see the CILIATED (having tiny hairs) lining of his small intestine. I decided to take charge.
I said with COMPUNCTION (strong uneasiness caused by guilt; remorse, contrition), “Golly, are you okay?”
He replied CAUSTICALLY ((burning, characterized by a bitter wit) , “Sure, I’m just swell. And how was your day?”
“Peachy,” I said.
At that he bellowed CHOLERICALLY (hot-temperedly). “You CALLOUS (unfeeling, unsympathetic) piece of CARRION (rotting flesh)! Can’t you see I’ve been shot? Did you think this hole in my chest was a CONGENITAL (existing at birth) condition? Get me to a hospital with CELERITY (swiftness, speed)!”
“You don’t have to be so CAPTIOUS (fault-finding), CANTANKEROUS (ill-natured, quarrelsome), and CHURLISH (boorish, rude). Let me COGITATE (think deeply and carefully, ruminate)!”
“If I don’t have this wound CAUTERIZED (to burn tissue), I’ll be a CADAVER (corpse).”
At that moment a comely broad walked into the office. She COMPORTED (behaved in a particular way) herself calmly. She was voluptuous and yet seemed CHASTE (pure, unspoiled, virginal). I was overcome with CONCUPISCENT (relating to sexual desire, lustful) thoughts that should be CENSORED (removed due to inappropriate nature). She pointed at the wounded man and said, “We were in my apartment; he got up to answer the door, and suddenly I heard a CACOPHONOUS sound and a cataclysmic vibration that must have reverberated in your CAPACIOUS office.
Just then my assistant, Watt, entered. he said, handing me the phone, “My kid wants to know what sort of tree he should plant in our garden. What do you think, Sure-lock?”
“A lemon tree, my dear Watt’s son,” I said.
Then Watt became COGNIZANT (fully informed and aware, conscious) of the situation. he COWERED (to quiver and shrink from fear) and said, “What is that?”
“It’s a plant with little yellow fruit and . . .”
He interrupted me, “No, that body on the floor.”
“Oh, golly, I forgot. We should get him to a hospital. But wait!” I COUNTERMANDED (canceled a command), “I need to stop for COMESTIBLES (food) on the way!”
We all lifted the body CONCURRENTLY (at the same time) and put it in my car.
When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor informed us that the CORPULENTman was dead.
“Golly, that’s too bad,” I said with CONTRITION (remorse, repentance, bitter regret felt owing to wrongdoing).
Well, it was time for me to get to the bottom of this heinous crime. CONVOKING (calling together, causing to assemble) the small crowd, I asked the dame, “Who was that man?”
“My husband,” she replied, CRESTFALLEN (dejected).
“Were your CONJUGAL (pertaining to marriage) relations good?”
“Well, no, in fact we had been CELIBATE (without sexual activity) for a long time.”
“Why?”
“Speaking with CANDOR (frankness), I chose to be CHASTE" (virtuous, free from indecency, not having enegaged in ILLICIT -- illegal-- sex).
“Is it CRASS (uncultured, crude) to ask why you chose to be CHASTE?”
“Because it starts with the letter C.”
“Aha! Well, let’s get to the CRUX (main point, central issue, heart of the matter) of the situation. Did you kill your husband?”
“How dare you CENSURE (criticize, blame) me like that. What a CALUMNIOUS (slanderous, defamatory) CONJECTURE (statement made without adequate evidence)!”
I repeated, “Did you kill him?”
“With CHAGRIN (embarrassment), she CAPITULATED (surrendered). “Well, only a little, but Watt will CORROBORATE (to testify in agreement, to support with testimony) that. He CAJOLED (coaxed) me into it.”
“Watt! What brought you to it? CUPIDITY (greed, avarice)? All the time I thought you were on the side of the law and you were really COVERTLY (concealed, secret) planning this crime. My CREDULITY (gullibility)! You CHARLATAN (quack, someone who pretends he’s someone he’s not)! I will bring you both to justice without CLEMENCY (mildness of temper -- especially leniency toward an enemy or in sentencing a criminal), and I’m sure you will be CASTIGATED (punished)with a prison sentence and CORPORAL (of the body, bodily) punishment COMMENSURATE (equal, proportionate) with the seriousness of the crime.”
Taken from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998
We bestow ACCOLADES and ENCOMIUMS on those whose workshop efforts are ASSIDUOUS (diligent), but we DECRY (denounce) DILATORY (tardy) LAGGARDS (draggy-gluteus maximi). It's BANAL (commonplace, mundane) but true -- a CONCACTENATION (a series or chain of interconnected or interdependent things or events) is only as strong as its weakest NEXUS (link)!
We look forward to the day that all ASPERSIONS (curses, expressions of ill will) cast upon any of your efforts are SPURIOUS (false but seem actual or true; plausible, but false) or SCURRILOUS (grossly or obscenely abusive) and absolutely GRATUITOUS (unwarranted, without cause). That translates, "Get busy so that there's no one to EXCORIATE (lambaste, scold, criticize, denounce) tomorrow!
#################But enough of this HARANGUE (rant, tirade).Your evening's ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDE...
1. TABLE 6 (Fellowship of Sleepy Ironmen Who Eat Pizza)-- You are on CULINARY duty tomorrow. What SUCCULENT MORSEL do you have in store for us?
2. REQUISITE MATH:
A. Get RADICAL with the YELLOW sheet.
B. Review formulas for FORMULA QUIZ.
*C. If you didn't do Sec. 2 of the Practice Test, finish the part we
haven't covered yet.
By the way, be APPRISED (notified) that the much-TOUTED (praised and promoted as though for sale) GEOMETRY BALL is coming soon to a PSAT Workshop near you. That means sometime this week!
3. REQUISITE WRITING: *If you didn't do Sec. 5 of the Practice Test, finish
the part we haven't covered yet.
4. REQUISITE CRITICAL READING:
A. Read! Read! Read! Highlight and card vocabulary as needed.
1.) TN Satire
2.) Begin "FIVE EQUATIONS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD" (about the
universal language -- math!)
B. VOCABULARY:
1.) Clip MVP Flashcards issued today. Study!
2.) Work on parody (due Fri.) or skit.
5. REQUISITE ONLINE WORK:
1.) Read your nightly VocabuTale.
2.) Check email & solve mysteries.
3.) Practice with flashcards and music videos.
##########And now for tonight's VocabuTale...
A Bolivian Bacchanal
With a BAWDY (obscene, coarse, lewdly humorous) exclamation, the burly buccaneers brutishly threw us out of the helicopter BEREFT (lacking something needed) of any parachute, and the BREVITY of our flight and BRUSQUENESS (brief, curt, gruff, discourteous) of our landing were not the BUCOLIC (pastoral, country) experiences described in our blonde travel agent’s BLAND (not stimulating, dull) brochure. We found ourselves in a jungle with all sorts of BANEFUL* (something which is really
poisonous or deadly) beasties crawling around our feet and BALEFUL (something that exerts an evil
influence or foreshadows evil) animal noises echoing around us.
“Yo,” said my BUMPTIOUS (self-assertive) companion with BRAGGADOCIO (cockiness) as he BURNISHED (polished) his achete. “What say we bash our way out of this place?” But before I could respond, we were captured by a BELLICOSE (violent, warlike) and BOISTEROUS (rowdy) tribe of natives about to performs its BELATED (delayed, late) BIENNIAL (every two years) human sacrifice to the fish goddess. We called a BARRISTER (lawyer), who offered BEATIFIC (displaying or imparting joy) BLANDISHMENTS (flattery). But in order to save our skins, we both had to be BETROTHED (engaged) to the chief’s daughter Brunnehilde.
“Yo,” said my companion. “This is a bit of a bummer. I should BERATE (scold severely) you for BOMBASTICALLY (grandiloquent [wordy, pompous] in speech or writing) BEGUILING (tricking) me into going on this BLIGHTED (ruined, destroyed, withered) vacation.” Then the axe fell and the BACCHANALIAN (orgiastic; like wild drunken revelry) rituals
honoring the BENEVOLENT (kind) fish goddess began.
* BALEFUL and BANEFUL are similar in meaning, but not entirely synonymous. To remember this,
think “baneful” rhymes with “painful” -- which deadly things tend to be!
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York, Workman,
1998.
Although you were NAIEVE NOVICES and NEOPHYTES, your NASCENT vocabulary skills are growing and maturing. We hope you are no longer NONPLUSSED by the NOISOME test and its NOXIOUS pitfalls ("sucker bait"). Understanding the NUANCES of test construction (POWER TEST -- easy, medium, and hard) and knowing the necessary tips will help you NEGOTIATE the NOTORIOUS obstacle NONCHALANTLY. If you apply your indomitable will to practice your skills, virtually all attempts by ETS to NULLIFY your build-up points through the nauseating guessing penalty, will be NUGATORY! Through dogged practice you will become the apotheosis of excellence, a paragon -- NONPAREIL!
A VILLAIN’S DEATH
The NEFARIOUS (evil) villain had reached the NADIR (absolutely lowest point) of his NOTORIOUS (famous for something bad, INFAMOUS) career. He had run into his NEMESIS (vengeful enemy), Nice Ned, the sheriff, after stealing some counterfeit cash -- he often didn’t notice the NUANCES (subtle variation in color, meaning, or some other quality) of forged bills. Now he lay dying from two fatal earlobe wounds near a NOISOME (offensive, disgusting, filthy, malodorous) junkyard in the desert.
Looking back, he recalled his NASCENT (emerging, coming into being) life as an outlaw. He had started as a NAIVE (lacking in worldly wisdom or experience) NOVICE (beginner) in New York, but when the NOXIOUS (harmful to health or morals) city fumes got to him, he headed west, where a NOVEL (new, unusual, different) future awaited him. In later years, no longer a NEOPHYTE (beginner), his NONCHALANT (appearing casual, cool indifferent, “chilled out”) attitude had left him NONPLUSSED (perplexed, baffled) . Now nearly dead, he wanted to establish a NEXUS (bond or link between things) with his lost youth, but it was too late.
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Hoping you are not NONPLUSSED (or NONPLUSED is an acceptable spelling, as well) by these NOVEL “N” words,
Your PSAT PEDAGOGUES
FELICITATIONS and CONGRATULATIONS, THESPIANS and writers! No OPPROBRIUM (ignominy, shame).....only APPROBATION for PUNGENT (sharp, zesty, biting) PARODIES you produced and the delightful skit scripts you presented. We appreciate the AMICABLE and JOCULAR approach, even when you were skewering us with a LAMPOON’s barb. And we especially appreciate the PAEANS and tributes to PSAT PEDAGOGUES! KUDOS all around!
Don't DAWDLE or be DILATORY or DESULTORY. Practice! Practice! Practice in your packets and at number2.com and quizlab.com.
Time for a bit of history with a big vocabulary M-pact! hmmmmmmMMMMMMMMM!!! For the BULK of history, men believed that MALARIA was caused by MIASMAS. We know that it is not the much-MALIGNED bad air which carries the MINUSCULE and MALEVOLENT disease germ, but the pesky MOSQUITO.
Now MEANDER through your nightly Voc. Tale . Tonight’s tale features the letter “M.” Hope you enjoy “Mark’s Problems,” below!
MARK’S PROBLEMS
In a small MARITIME (near the sea, concerned with shipping or navigation), no make that “Madison County,” village, there lived a MOROSE (sullen, depressed) musician named Mark. Most of the citizens were MAGNANIMOUS (noble, generous, forgiving, magnificently kind) to him because he was a METICULOUSLY (extremely careful and precise) clean MENDICANT (beggar), but there was a MINUSCULE-brained (very tiny) MALEVOLENT (wishing evil upon others, malicious, the opposite of benevolent) gang in town who MALICIOUSLY (with evil intent) MALIGNED (slandered, said bad thing about) him. “Hey, Mark,” they would yell. “You’re more MALODOROUS (stinky) than a moo-cow.” Yeah, ‘Mark’ is a MISNOMER (inappropriate or wrong name): you should be called Moo-k!”
Mark bore the MENDACIOUS (lying) gang no MALICE (spite, the desire to do evil to others), though he wished he could, through some ingenious MANEUVER (skillful or clever move), MEANDER (wander around aimlessly) through the town’s MYRIAD (many, lots, a very large amount) streets without these MONOTONOUS (boring, repetitious) MORDANT (bitingly sarcastic or nasty) MALEDICTIONS (spoken curses). He grew MELANCHOLY (sad, depressed, PENSIVE) and suffered from a great MALAISE (feeling of illness or depression) as he MOROSELY contemplated their MALIGNANCY(malevolent and malicious acts). He could be found sitting, listening to the MELLIFLUOUS (sweet sounding, flowing with honey or sweetness) sounds of jazz and classical trumpet, with a virtual MIASMA (poisonous atmosphere or cloud) over him, snuffling quietly. There, that story wasn’t so MACABRE (gross, ghastly, suggestive of horrible death and decay), was it?
adapted from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
MAGNANIMOUSLY yours, Your PSAT PEDAGOGUES
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Sat., July 28, 2007
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSATers,
One thing PSAT Workshops lack is LONGEVITY (long life). They seem LILLIPUTIAN (minute, extremely small) in comparison with regular school, don’t they? We LAMENT (mourn, grieve) their EPHEMERAL (quickly passing, transient) nature, and we LOATHE (detest) losing you. As somebody named Will once noted, Parting is INDEED such sweet sorrow! Oh, well... At least we CAPITALIZED (took advantage of, made the most of) the brief time together!
With a click of the cursor, we pull up the Skit Slideshows and SAVOR and relive the moment when you showcased your VOLUMINOUS vocabularies and SCINTILLATING wit in vaudevillian VIGNETTES!
And now for tonight’s bedtime VocabuTale here’s........
############
An Open and Frank Note from the Authors (brought to you by the letter "L")
With such words in this list as LEWD (indecent, obscene) , LICENTIOUS (immoral, morally wild or sexually unrestrained), and LECHEROUS (lewd, lustful) in the L’s, you’re probably looking forward to a great story. Well, you won’t find one here, but not because we were too LACKADAISICAL (uncaring, lacking in interest or spirit) or LANGUID ((lacking energy, weak). We actually did write a pretty LASCIVIOUS (lusty, lewd) one, but instead of LAUDING (praising) it, the editor LOATHED (hated) it. After she read it, she LITHELY (gracefully, supplely, limberly) LAMBASTED (thrashed, mauled, beat, whipped, or bludgeoned with big things and other than fun stuff; to scold sharply or rebuke) us with LETHAL (deadly) cans of lima beans ( We suspect they were obtained through LARCENY), lacerating our ligaments. This made us a bit LUGUBRIOUS (mournful or sad), but we were willing to LUCUBRATE (study hard and in a scholarly fashion) some more and come up with a new story. But when she LACONICALLY (briefly, tersely, concisely, succinctly) called us ‘LIMACINE (pertaining to or resembling a slug -- This word won’t be on the test, but you may find it useful, particularly if you have younger siblings) idiots,” we left, suddenly overcome by our LATENT (potential but not yet displayed) LETHARGY (sluggishness, indifference), LANGUOR (sluggishness, lack of energy), and LASSITUDE (listlessness, state of exhaustion or weakness). And so, in protest, we didn’t do an L story. Humblest apologies. We hope you will forgive us.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Lexicographical ignorance LAMBASTED by the DIDADIC DUO + ONE
A thousand pardons for our recent technical difficulties. Check your email and you'll find the long awaited links to Skit Slideshows -- PSAT Workshop 2007. Enjoy!
Also, don't forget that you need to do a little SHERLOCK-ing if you want a SURE-lock on a good grade for PSAT class. We'll be better able to handle the emails now that Mrs. Shiv has executed a computer recovery!
I'm afraid your RACONTEURS are a bit LACONIC (of few words) tonight. Tonight's tale is the tale of the JADED JINGOIST. It's CONCISE, SUCCINCT, yes, even TERSE, but not PROSAIC or PEDESTRIAN in the least!
For the CLASSIC poop (or EXCREMENT for those of you with SCATALOGICAL fixations) on the ULTIMATE JADED JINGOIST, go to Blockbuster and rent Citizen Kane, Orson Well's masterpiece based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, America's most famous jingoist.
Well-educated people "in the know" experience no PERPLEXITY when other equally well-versed individuals ALLUDE to "ROSEBUD." If you don't "get it," read this first for your vocabulary's sake, then rush right out to get IT (Citizen Kane) for cultural literacy's sake! If you'd like to read more about this LANDMARK film, this cinematic WATERSHED, go to
http://www.filmsite.org/citi.html. If you'd like to borrow a copy of the video, come by Room A-186.
CRIME DOESN'T PAY
The JINGOIST (extreme patriot) became JADED (wearied, especially by too much of the good life). He didn't feel as JOCOSE (merry, joking), JOCULAR (jolly, joking), or JOCUND (merry, jolly) as he once did. Eventually, he turned to KNAVERY (dishonest, mischievous dealing) , robbing from KIOSKS (pavilion or small open booth where items are bought or sold). It was KISMET (fate)that he got caught. It takes a little KEN (range of knowledge) to be a KLEPTOMANIAC (compulsive thief) -- a lesson for us all!
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
We're back after a brief HIATUS....Workshop's over, but the work is just beginning!
Let this message be absolutely PERSPICUOUS! If you wish to avoid an IMPASSE on your VERBAL PSAT, you must be an INDOMITABLE student with an INSATIABLE intellectual appetite and an IMPECCABLE vocabulary! You also need to be INDEFATIGABLE in your efforts online. May the light of verbal excellence will EMINATE from your monitor's screen!)
Tonight's VocabuTale is brought to you by the letter "I."
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SIX IRASCIBLE FOOLS
Kyra, MKK, Aaron, Andre, Mitch, and McNeill were traveling INCOGNITO (in disguise) in the INCOMMODIOUS (lacking space, not commodious) bus. They had reached an IMPASSE (dead end) in their INDOMITABLE (unconquerable, impossible to dominate) attempts to think of sentences for the PSAT "I's" and were nearly INSENSATE (unconscious, lacking sensation) with INDOLENCE (laziness).
"Hey, McNeill, do you have any INGENIOUS (original, resourceful) ideas for 'INSCRUTABLE (enigmatic, difficult to understand),' you INEPT (incompetent) fool?" Aaron inquired.
McNeill's face remained IMPASSIVE (without emotion, expressionless). "You know you're just INCITING (arousing, instigating) me to anger with your INSIPID (lacking excitement, VAPID) INVECTIVE (abusive put-down). If you continue this IMPROPRIETY (improper, without displaying propriety) , this INVIDIOUS (offensive, making people angry) behavior, I'll become IRASCIBLE (easily provoked, irritable)."
"Are we to infer that you are questioning Aaron's IMPECCABLE (flawless and faultless) integrity by implying that he acted in an IGNOBLE (not noble) manner?" Kyra interjected INGENUOUSLY (innocently, showing childlike simplicity) "I'm sure he couldn't stand the IGNOMINY (dishonor, disgrace)."
"If you all don't shut up, I'll be forced to IMPALE (to pierce with a sharp stake or point) you. Especially since you IMBIBED (drank in, absorbed) my iodine," MKK shouted.
"There seems to be an INSIDIOUS (working or spreading stealthily, sneaking inside to do something bad -- NOT to be confused with "INVIDIOUS") force at work among us," Andre added. "Our INCONTROVERTIBLY (indisputably) INSATIABLE (impossible to satisfy) desire to help our fellow PSAT scholars is failing!"
"But what, ho!" Mitch exclaimed. "I believe our destination is IMMINENT (about to occur, impending)."
So the bus stopped, and they got off, continuing to argue INCESSANTLY (nonstop, ceaselessly).
adapted from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Undergrounnd Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
The skits were ERUDITE as well as entertaining. You've reached the APOGEE, the ZENITH of excellence. You are not in the PENULTIMATE position; you've achieved the ULTIMATE. What can we say? We're EBULLIENT, ELATED, EXUBERANT, and ECSTATIC. We are EFFUSIVE!!!!
On to Vocabulary Tale H. . . .After you've read about the ill-fated HOMILY (sermonlike speech) of the HIRSUIT (hairy) priest below and you've NEGOTIATED (navigated) the easy and medium and hard SC review at QUIZLAB , so the REAL SAT practices. Be sure you’re marking +/-/0 and “KILLING DISTRACTORS.” Then head for the REEEEEEEEAAAALY H-A-I-R-Y stuff at number2.com.
Remember that merely desiring (even EARNESTLY) a spiking score will not SUFFICE (be sufficient or enough). To achieve a point PRECIPICE (high point, brink), you must exert the INDOMITABLE (that which cannot be controlled or dominated) will and personal discipline required to do your DISCOMMODING (causing inconvenience, disturbing) and DISCOMFITING (disconcerting, confusing) daily drill!
To PLUS or not to PLUS, to fill-in-the-blank, to do the 2nd first, to OBLITERATE (wipe out, destroy completely) what you eliminate -- all TACTICS must become second nature,
INHERENT in your approach to S.C.'s! Too bad they aren't INNATE (inborn)!
----THE END of this HARANGUE (tirade; long, noisy speech delivered in a vehement manner)
This HARANGUE (tirade) is brought to you by your friendly, neighborhood PSAT PEDAGOGUES (teachers) who are rapidly turning into the TERMAGANT (shrewish woman) TRIO as a result of your massive ABDICATION (to renounce or relinquish formally) of your responsibility to practice!
P.S. Don’t forget to
(1) print out a hard copy of tonight’s VocabulTale for your notebook!
(2) make vocabulary flashcards for word contained below that you don’t know!
###################
1. PEOPLE ON THE PSAT (Brush-up, prepare for role-play, and work on GREEN packet)
2. Analyze errors on Sec. 1 & 3 of practice test SC's.
3. MATH
4. BLUE VOCABULARY PACKET
5. SNAPS!!!!!
6. ONLINE: quizlab.com, number2.com
7. Finish DAVE BARRY (Toilet Testers)
#######################
THE HOMILY
The HIRSUTE (hairy) young priest was preparing his HOMILY (sermonlike speech), and he needed advice from the HOARY (gray or white from age, old) HAGGARD (wasted, worn) pastor.
"I gotta give a good talk so I can move up in the church HIERARCHY (social structure, social pecking order)," he explained. "Can you help me?"
"You speak on HALLOWED (holy, sacred) ground," the pastor began," so don't HARANGUE (mean, nasty, angry speech or tirade) and be not HAUGHTY (proud, vain, arrogant). Don't forget to condemn HEINOUS (grossly wicked, vile, odious) HEDONISM (philosophy of trying to be happy all the time; a funky state of being in which you do your own thing and don't worry about morality), though. A good public response to your sermon will be a HARBINGER (forerunner, something that signals the approach of something, omen) of your advancement." The priest worked all night, searching for HACKNEYED (overused, trite)expressions and hip HOMONYMS (word that sounds like another word but has a different meaning). But when dawn came, he just said, "Oh, the heck with it."
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
This HYPOTHETICAL (not actual, but supposed) tale and the HUFFY HULABALOO are brought to you through the HERCULEAN (requiring great strength) efforts of the TEST-SKILLS
We're BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! Let us apologize PROFUSELY for brief HIATUS, during which you were w/o a nightly VocabuTale.
ASSIGNMENTS:
#####################
1. SKITS TOMORROW!
2. Remember that tomorrow we're pulling a full day. Don't forget your sack lunch. Groups responsibile for snacks and drinks should come prepared!
3. BLUE SHEETS: Practice SC strategy & tactics. Don't worry so much about getting the right answer. Worry about formulating good S & T habits! Timed test coming tomorrow!
4. GRAMMAR & USAGE: Check email for links to subj.-verb agreement practices. Record results and email to Mrs. Reed: dreed@madison-schools.com
5. TEACH DAVE BARRY SOME BIG WORDS! ("Toilet Testers..." worksheet)
6. MATH: Be ready to discuss Sec. 4 of the test.
7. BLUE and GREEN VOCAB PACKETS & CROSSWORDS -- Work! Work! Work! People on the PSAT DAY is coming Friday
8. WORK ONLINE: quizlab.com & number2.com. Don't forget to work your vocab.!
#############
It’s time now to move from “F” to “G” in our Vocabulary Tales. Let’s do it with a FRACTURED FAIRY TALE. You've enjoyed "THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF" for years. Try out this more OBSCURE (lesser-known) and ERUDITE (scholarly) version!
LESSER-KNOWN ADVENTURE OF THE
THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF
The three Billy Goats GRUFF (rough or stern in aspect or speech) met in the GLOAMING (twilight) near the bridge.
“I’m really scared of that GRUESOME (grisly, gory) troll, “ Billy Goat #1 said, GESTICULATING (gesturing, signaling with hands and arms) toward the bridge. Despite her GOSSAMER (light, delicate, insubstantial) gown, she doesn’t seem too GREGARIOUS (friendly, outgoing, sociable).”
“I won’t GAINSAY (deny, dispute, say something against what someone else says) that, and I heard her GOURMET (one who appreciates fine food and drink, EPICURE, CONNOISSEUR) appetite includes a GRISLY (gory) taste for goat’s hooves!” BG #2 added nervously. “I really don’t like GRATUITOUS (unnecessary or unwarranted) violence.”
Cowards!” BG #3 GIBED (heckled or mocked, taunted, picked on). “I don’t listen to nonGERMANE (relevant, appropriate) GARBLED (confused, mixed up) GIBBERISH (rapid, incomprehensible, or nonsensical speaking; DRIVEL) that only GULLIBLE (believing anything) fools like you would believe. I bet that troll is really a cool gal. Watch me cross that bridge!”
“You have a GRANDIOSE (excessively impressive or grand) opinion of yourself, but you’re really pretty dumb. So long, bud,” Goat #1 replied with a GRIMACE (twisted facial expression), anticipating the GRAPHIC (vivid, explicit) goat-mutilation horror that soon followed.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: workman, 1998.
To all our wonderful word CONNOISSEURS,
From your favorite RACONTEURS (story-tellers), the TEACHING TRIUMVIRATE
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Sat., July 14, 2007
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSATER:
Greetings and FELICITATIONS! We hope you are enjoying this brief weekend RESPITE (break, rest). But we are counting on you to put in the REQUISITE (required, necessary) time on PSAT practice. (See Fri. night for assignments.)
Did you like the Week #1 Slideshow? If you haven't seen it, check your email. We sent you and your parents the link so that you could enjoy it.
Installment F in our Vocabulary Tales is a very FISHY tale indeed. (Smells kinda' PISCINE -- fishlike. It is designed to FORTIFY your PSAT vocabulary. (We're not being FACETIOUS here!) If you can't read it with FACILITY and w/o FALTERING, fill the FISSURES in your knowledge by FAMILIARIZING yourself with the parenthetical information provided.
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FRED THE FILCHER
Freddy has a FLAGRANT (deliberately conspicuous, glaring) FOIBLE (weakness, flaw). He FILCHED (stole) fish, sometimes with FERVOR (passion) and sometimes with FORBEARANCE (patience), but he never FLUCTUATED (made irregular variation) from his FORTE (strong point -- pronounced FOR-tay). One day his mother, returning from the garden -- which was FECUND (fertile) with fish remains -- said FACETIOUSLY (joking or jesting) , "Freddy, is it FEASIBLE (workable, plausible, possible) that you'll FOMENT (stir up, agitate, incite) a FETID (smelly) FULMINATION (explosion, roar, loud denouncement) of fish odor if you continue to FRENETICALLY (frenzied, frantic) FLAUNT (show off) your FILCHING habits?"
FROWARD (stubborn, obdurate) Freddy frowned. "That is a FATUOUS (inane, foolish) as well as FALLACIOUS (false, incorrect) suggestion." Then he uttered the following FASTIDIOUSLY (careful about details, impossible to satisfy) crafted rationalization. "This FACET (side, aspect, or face of something) of my abilities is not FUTILE (completely ineffective) , as it provides fish for our otherwise FRUGAL (sparing in expense, stingy, miserly) dinner. You should FAWN (grovel, be overly admiring)over me, not FULMINATE against me."
The preceding story is FICTITIOUS (false, not genuine), FABRICATED (invented or made up often in order to deceive) by the authors.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
All glory, LAUD (praise), and honor FAMILY MESS for today's breaktime REPAST (meal). Like Cher in Clueless, you may BASK (warm yourselves as in the sunshine) in the warm glow of public APPROBATION (praise, commendation). We SAVORED (tasted with pleasure or zest) every bite, GOURMETS (a CONNOISSEUR -- one who is qualified becasuse of his expert knowledge and discriminating taste to pass critical judgment on something, esp. wine or food --of fine food and drink) and GOURMANDS (one who is fond of fine food and drink) alike.
Check email. We're working on a slide show for you!
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ASSIGNMENTS:
1. SKIT (digital copy due by 6:00 p.m. Sunday)
2. MATH - symbols
3. BLUE & GREEN packets
4. Teach Dave Barry some big words!
5. CONFUSING WORDS Quiz coming! (practice using links and packet)
6. PURPLE - grammar & usage!
7. Work online at number2.com and quizlab
8. Be an email Mystery Maven!
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Now for a bedtime story from your favorite RACONTEUR (excellent story teller).........
Today we explore VOCABULARY through VEGETABLES. (That means we'll use FLORA as opposed to FAUNA). PERUSE installment E in our Vocabulary Tales -- that's "E" for "EDIFICATION"!
ESSAY ON EGGPLANT
I want to know which ERUDITE (scholarly) vegetable maker invented eggplant. If he is dead, I will EXHUME (disinter, to remove from a grave) his coffin and EFFACE (erase, rub out) the EPITAPH (memorial text carved on a tombstone) from his tombstone. If he is alive, I will burn him in EFFIGY (dummy or mannequin, usually for symbolic torturing--you know......like the Brits do to Guy Fawkes every year!) and ensure he will not be EULOGIZED (speech of praise at one's funeral) when he dies. Eggplant is the EPITOME (something that perfectly represents an entire class of things; embodiment -- pronounced eh-PIT-oh-me) of bad vegetables and its destruction is EXIGENT (urgent, requiring immediate attention) . I ESCHEW (avoid, shun) eating it. Its badness is almost ETHEREAL (not of the material world) . I would rather become EMACIATED (excessively thin, weak) than eat eggplant. This is an EXACTING (demanding) demand, but would someone please EDIFY (enlighten, educate) me, without being ESOTERIC (known only by a few people) or EQUIVOCAL (ambiguous, capable of two interpretations) , as to one good thing about eggplant? It's mushy, it has seeds, it makes my tongue itch, it has a dopey name, and it tastes like the droppings that an EQUESTRIAN (pertaining to horsemen or horsemanship)slob forgot to clean up. I wish all the soil on the world's eggplant farms would ERODE (to diminish or destroy by small amounts) . Just thinking about eggplant makes me EFFETE (tired, barren, decadent), Oh and get this -- when eggplants fertilize each other, the round ones with lots of seeds are the female ones and the long, narrow ones are the males. And they do it EBULLIENTLY (bubbly, overflowing with excitement) in public, in front of all the other vegetables. What would happen if humans EMULATED (to imitate closely) this behavior?
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
TECHNICAL TIP: If you wish to save paper when printing a hard copy for review purposes, simply copy the notes to your WORD PROCESSOR and print!
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSATers:
Your PSAT PARODIES were PSUPERB! You are indeed PERSPICACIOUS (having keen powers of observation and judgment.
We hope you are pleased with your BURGEONING (rapidly growing, flourishing) vocabularies. By October, they will be PRODIGIOUS (huge, extraordinarily large)! But PSAT skills MUST be practiced. Were you listening in class? Ms. D's INCISIVE (cutting to the heart of the matter) analysis is correct. You have demonstrated SCINTILLATING (sparkling) intellects; now where's that INDOMITABLE WILL??
Writing your PSAT PARODY gave you plenty of opportunity to APPLY your knowledge and practice your skills. Likewise will the upcoming skit.
KUDOS! PLAUDITS! ACCOLADES! ENCOMIUMS to you for a really good effort at GEOMETRY BALL! You might want to PERUSE those formulas again sometime soon, though.
Furthermore, you're doing a fine job on TIPS & TACTICS.
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ASSIGNMENTS:
1. BLUE and GREEN vocabulary packets and crosswords.
2. PURPLE: CONFUSING WORDS (quiz coming)
A. work in packet
B. do PERNICIOUS PAIRS at www.quizlab.com
C. check email for links to online practice
3. PINK: OBLIVIOUS (Clueless) Fill-ins
4. YELLOW: Math – roots & exponents
5. READ! (parody)
6. FAMILY MESS: prep SUCCULENT MORSELS for break!
7. SKIT!
8. www. number2.com
9. email mysteries!
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Now for your Nighty-night VocabuTale...........It centers on words beginning with the letter "D"!
THE DISTRAUGHT DOGCATCHER
Dan was DISTRAUGHT (anxious, worried, distressed). He knew he'd soon have to go up to the DAIS (raised platform) and declare his candidacy for dogcatcher. He knew he was DEVOID (completely lacking, void, empty, without)of charisma and not a DYNAMIC (energetic, vigorous, forceful) speaker. He wasn't even DEXTEROUS (adroit or skillful in the use of hands or body) at catching canines. Doubtless, he would DEBASE (to lower in quality or value, adulterate) himself by speaking like a DERANGED (having a severe mental disorder, being insane) fool.
Trying to appear DAUNTLESS (bold), he shambled forward with a DEARTH (scarcity, paucity) of enthusiasm. He tried to picture his audience all in DIAPHANOUS (translucent, gossamer) gowns, but it did not help his mood at all.
"Ahem," he began, but was DETERRED (prevented or discouraged from happening) from continuing when he DESCRIED discerned, caught sight of something which is difficult to catch sight of) the DIABOLICAL (fiendish, devilish, nastily scheming) Great Dane that was rapidly DEPLETING (lessening the supply or content of) his audience by devouring them. Feeling this DEVASTATION (ruin by violent action) might DEROGATE (detract, take away from) his speech, Dan's thoughts were thrown into sudden DISCORD (lack of harmony), and he felt a DRASTIC (severe) need to DEFENESTRATE (the act of throwing something out of the window -- It's HIGHLY unlikely you'll see this on the PSAT. However, you may wish to DEFENESTRATE your PSAT Proctor!) himself. Using himself as a DECOY (lure or bait) to get the beast's attention, he DEMURRED (objected mildly), "ummmmmm. . . please stop!" People DISCERNED (detected by use of the senses) his foolishness.
Later that day, a supporter DISPARAGED (belittled, reduced in esteem) Dan's speech. "It was rather DESULTORY (aimless, rambling, haphazard, disconnected). DIVERS (several) DIVERSE (distinct, varied, differing) rumors have been DISSEMINATED (dispensed or distributed) that he is DEPRAVED (morally corrupt, debased, perverted). We'll have trouble DELUDING (deceiving) the public into believing the contrary."
As ever, DEPLETING the dictionary in the service of EXPONENTIALLY expanding your vocabulary,
Yours truly, THE DIDACTIC DUO + ONE
The parodies are are unparalleled! We are absolutely, positively blinded by the light of your SCINTILLATING (sparkling) intellects. Can you tell that we are having a wonderful time grading your papers? You might say we are DElighted by your SCINTILLATING wit.....OUCH.....really bad joke, huh? But, here's the rub.........We need all of them. We'll await your work with BATED BREATH!
ASSIGNMENTS:
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1. Read and write parodies if you haven't already.
2. Teach Dave Barry some PSAT words.
3. Teach YOURSELF some PSAT words (blue stuff, green stuff, purple stuff).
4. Do diction worksheet (packet) and assignment #1 (single sheet).
5. Study geometry......THE GEOMETRY BALL is coming tomorrow!
6. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Please prep more wonderful snacks. (We forgot to bring home the team name list.......You know who you are!
7. GET BUSY ONLINE! Do a little bit all along! (We'll be sending progress reports this weekend.)
8. Become an email mystery MAVEN (expert or connoisseur)if you have not already.
9. Think SKIT!
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Now for your nightly VocabuTale:
Today's letter is "C."
A MYSTERY
It was one of those steamy nights when the sky is lousy with stars. I was enjoying a CATHARTIC (cleansing, allowing a release of tension or emotion) CEREBRATION (thought)and CULLING (selecting, weeding out) the blue M & M's CACHE in the office of the Sure-Lock Homes Locksmith and Detective Agency. Suddenly, my COGITATIONS (ruminations, deep and careful thinking) were interrupted by a CACOPHONOUS (sounding discordant, terrible and generally unpleasant to listen to, opposite of "euphonious") sound and a cataclysmic vibration that reverberated through my CAPACIOUS (spacious) office. I stepped with CIRCUMSPECTION (prudence, caution) into the hall because I was afraid someone might be up to some CHICANERY (trickery). I found a CHAOTIC (utter confusion) scene: a CORPULENT (obese, fat bodied) man lying CONTORTED (twisted, bent) at the bottom of the stairs. Blood was gushing though a wound in his side, and I could see the CILIATED (having tiny hairs) lining of his small intestine. I decided to take charge.
I said with COMPUNCTION (strong uneasiness caused by guilt; remorse, contrition), "Golly, are you okay?"
He replied CAUSTICALLY ((burning, characterized by a bitter wit) , "Sure, I'm just swell. And how was your day?"
"Peachy," I said.
At that he bellowed CHOLERICALLY (hot-temperedly). "You CALLOUS (unfeeling, unsympathetic) piece of CARRION (rotting flesh)! Can't you see I've been shot? Did you think this hole in my chest was a CONGENITAL (existing at birth) condition? Get me to a hospital with CELERITY (swiftness, speed)!"
"You don't have to be so CAPTIOUS (fault-finding), CANTANKEROUS (ill-natured, quarrelsome), and CHURLISH (boorish, rude). Let me COGITATE (think deeply and carefully, ruminate)!"
"If I don't have this wound CAUTERIZED (to burn tissue), I'll be a CADAVER (corpse)."
At that moment a comely broad walked into the office. She COMPORTED (behaved in a particular way) herself calmly. She was voluptuous and yet seemed CHASTE (pure, unspoiled, virginal). I was overcome with CONCUPISCENT (relating to sexual desire, lustful) thoughts that should be CENSORED (removed due to inappropriate nature). She pointed at the wounded man and said, "We were in my apartment; he got up to answer the door, and suddenly I heard a CACOPHONOUS sound and a cataclysmic vibration that must have reverberated in your CAPACIOUS office.
Just then my assistant, Watt, entered. he said, handing me the phone, "My kid wants to know what sort of tree he should plant in our garden. What do you think, Sure-lock?"
"A lemon tree, my dear Watt's son," I said.
Then Watt became COGNIZANT (fully informed and aware, conscious) of the situation. he COWERED (to quiver and shrink from fear) and said, "What is that?"
"It's a plant with little yellow fruit and . . ."
He interrupted me, "No, that body on the floor."
"Oh, golly, I forgot. We should get him to a hospital. But wait!" I COUNTERMANDED (canceled a command), "I need to stop for COMESTIBLES (food) on the way!"
We all lifted the body CONCURRENTLY (at the same time) and put it in my car.
When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor informed us that the CORPULENT man was dead.
"Golly, that's too bad," I said with CONTRITION (remorse, repentance, bitter regret felt owing to wrongdoing).
Well, it was time for me to get to the bottom of this heinous crime. CONVOKING (calling together, causing to assemble) the small crowd, I asked the dame, "Who was that man?"
"My husband," she replied, CRESTFALLEN (dejected).
"Were your CONJUGAL (pertaining to marriage) relations good?"
"Well, no, in fact we had been CELIBATE (without sexual activity) for a long time."
"Why?"
"Speaking with CANDOR (frankness), I chose to be CHASTE" (virtuous, free from indecency, not having enegaged in ILLICIT -- illegal-- sex).
"Is it CRASS (uncultured, crude) to ask why you chose to be CHASTE?"
"Because it starts with the letter C."
"Aha! Well, let's get to the CRUX (main point, central issue, heart of the matter) of the situation. Did you kill your husband?"
"How dare you CENSURE (criticize, blame) me like that. What a CALUMNIOUS (slanderous, defamatory) CONJECTURE (statement made without adequate evidence)!"
I repeated, "Did you kill him?"
"With CHAGRIN (embarrassment), she CAPITULATED (surrendered). "Well, only a little, but Watt will CORROBORATE (to testify in agreement, to support with testimony) that. He CAJOLED (coaxed) me into it."
"Watt! What brought you to it? CUPIDITY (greed, avarice)? All the time I thought you were on the side of the law and you were really COVERTLY (concealed, secret) planning this crime. My CREDULITY (gullibility)! You CHARLATAN (quack, someone who pretends he's someone he's not)! I will bring you both to justice without CLEMENCY (mildness of temper -- especially leniency toward an enemy or in sentencing a criminal), and I'm sure you will be CASTIGATED (punished)with a prison sentence and CORPORAL (of the body, bodily) punishment COMMENSURATE (equal, proportionate) with the seriousness of the crime."
Taken from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
For more mysteries, email Ms. Shiv.
DIDACTICALLY ( instructively, informatively, intending to teach) yours,
FROM YOUR DARLING DIDACTS, otherwise known as your PSAT PEDAGOGUES
Because we’re spending our afternoons ELUCIDATING (making clear) Civil War economics for ASPIRING (desiring and aiming eagerly at achievement) academic decathletes, we’re a bit DILATORY (tardy) in posting. But we’re certainly not DESULTORY (without direction)! Our actions are in line with our ASPIRATIONS, which are to help you all ACTUALIZE (realize, make real) your
academic potential!
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ASSIGNMENTS: Work on these and try to remember to do what Mrs. Shivers asked you to do!
1. Log on to number2.com or Quizlab and do at least one exercise.
2. YELLOW SHEETS - Math
A. Do worksheet. DUE WED. (that's tomorrow!)
B. Study formulas for QUIZ WED.! (Guess what....tomorrow, too!)
3. ORANGE SHEETS -
A. 4 of you need to et photo posting permission slip signed. You know
who you are!
B. Work on PSAT PARODY (due THURS.) Email digital
copy & turn in hard copy.
4. BLUE& GREEN SHEETS - vocabulary
A. Work on BLUES (201 and MVP)
B. Start on GREENS (People You Meet on the PSAT)
5. PURPLE: Begin PERUSING (looking over PERNICIOUS PAIRS & such. If you take it to the potty with you every time you go this week, you should be able to get through it and mark the stuff you don't know for carding!)
6. GROUP WORK:
A. Focus on your skit responsibilities!
B. BEACH SLEEPING GYLLEN HALLS: Don't forget that you are responsible
for tomorrow's breaktime REPAST (meal).....Well, that's a bit of
an overstatement. Just don't for get the COPIOUS COMESTIBLES for our
snack!
7. READING:
A. "Stayin' Alive" by Friday (That 70s Day...Don't forget to plan your costume!)
B. Tonight's VOCABUtale.
By the way, we recommend you look for the BURIED BOOTY (treasure --- translate: bonus points) below!
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Bolivian Bacchanal
With a BAWDY (obscene, coarse, lewdly humorous) exclamation, the burly buccaneers brutishly pushed us out of the helicopter BEREFT (lacking something needed) of any parachute, and the BREVITYour flight and BRUSQUENESS (brief, curt, gruff, discourteous) of our landing were not the BUCOLIC(pastoral, country) experiences described in our blonde travel agent's BLAND (not stimulating, dull).
We found ourselves in a jungle with all sorts of BANEFUL* (something which is reallyor deadly) beasties crawling around our feet and BALEFUL (something that exerts an evilor foreshadows evil) animal noises echoing around us.
"Yo," said my BUMPTIOUS (self-assertive) companion with BRAGGADOCIO (cockiness) as he(polished) his machete. "What say we bash our way out of this place?"
But before I could respond, we were captured by a BELLICOSE (violent, warlike) and(rowdy) tribe of natives about to performs its BELATED (delayed, late) BIENNIAL(every two years) human sacrifice to the fish goddess. We called a BARRISTER (lawyer), who offered(displaying or imparting joy) BLANDISHMENTS (flattery). But in order to save our skins,both had to be BETROTHED (engaged) to the chief's daughter Brunnehilde.
"Yo," said my companion. "This is a bit of a bummer. I should BERATE (scold severely) youBOMBASTICALLY (grandiloquent [wordy, pompous] in speech or writing) BEGUILING (tricking)into going on this BLIGHTED (ruined, destroyed, withered) vacation." Then the axe fell and the BACCHANALIAN (orgiastic; like wild drunken revelry) rituals the BENEVOLENT (kind) fish goddess began.
*Please note: BALEFUL and BANEFUL are similar in meaning, but not entirely synonymous. To remember this,"baneful" rhymes with "painful" -- which deadly things tend to be!
Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York, Workman,
Now, for your buried treasure....... See the new link for a BUSH BACCHANALIA!!!!! The Dancin' Dubya is PRICELESS! (You know, he's just the right age to have been "Stayin' Alive" on the 70s disco scene!)
Show us what you know! Email Ms. Shiv your answers to these TRIVIA questions in order to collect REAL treasure (BONUS PTS.).
"Stayin' Alive"--.
1. On pp. 16 & 17 (1st sheet, Find the terms meaning
A. that which is established or accepted as correct belief
B. opposite of explosion
C. VIPS, GIANTS taken from ancient Greek race of giants descended from Uranus and Gaea, who ruled the world until the Olympian gods ZAPPED 'em!.
2. What WAS the SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE to which the article alludes?
Welcome to our VIRTUAL ABODE. Here you will find a PLETHORA of GERMANE information (vocabulary in context, flashcard for drill [click "flashcards" in box above], and links, links, LINKS [ just scroll down]! ) to assist you in your VALIANT QUEST to achieve the ever-so-possible dream, a 200+ on your PSAT.
Stop and click the NOTIFY ME function, enter the REQUISITE personal information, and submit POSTHASTE. Registration will ensure that you get an automatic update reminders via email.
Got a QUERY? With a quick click on the site's email function, you've got PERPETUAL access to our assistance. We are, after all, willing THRALLS -- VASSALS in the service of the EXPONENTIAL AUGMENTATION your score. But the resulting correspondence simply says "EMAIL FROM SCHOOLNOTES VISITOR." If you want us to respond with ALACRITY, it's best to type in the email addresses listed on your sheet and to include PSAT in your subject line. Oh, and rememeber that because we don't regognize your email address,NOMENCLATURE is necessary. That means you must be sure to include your APPELATION (both first and last names) in your EPISTLE!
1. YELLOW SHEETS - Math
A. Do worksheet. DUE TUES. (that's tomorrow!)
B. Study formulas for QUIZ WED.!
2. ORANGE SHEETS -
A. Get photo posting permission slip signed. (And show your parents the preview video if you think they'd be interested. It's linked above.)
B. Work on PSAT PARODY (due THURS.) Email digital
copy & turn in hard copy.
3. BLUE SHEETS - vocabulary
A. If you haven't done your 201 words/CROSSWORDS,
get busy!
B. Begin working in the new blue vocabulary packet
covering THE MIGHTY PREFIX, ROOTS & BRANCHES, and
SYNONYM CLUSTERS. That includes downloading
the virtual flashcards linked in the box above and
actually studying them!
4. GROUP WORK:
A. Begin thinking about skit possibilites.
B. FRESH GREEN POTATOES: We need more than just food for
thought at break tomorrow. Don't forget to fix COPIOUS
COMESTIBLES for our physical SUSTENANCE! (In other words,
prepare for the snack-attack!
(You'll find only mental "munchies" here in cyberspace -- virtual VICTUALS ...PROVERBIAL "food for thought," ...COPIOUS COMESTIBLES of context and connotation which will provide AMPLE intellectual SUSTENANCE.)
5. READING:
A. Hershey's PARODY. (Card any words you don't know.)
B. Tonight's VOCABUtale for the letter "A." We recommend you print out a hard copy for your notebook. Just cut and paste into a word processor.
STRESSED OUT ALREADY? Not-to-worry! Just download our lovely Stress Reliever and have-at the screen right now. It's linked above!
Now, for a few SUCCULENT vocabulary MORSELS for you to savor...........
Tonight's installment is our VOCABULARY EPIC is . . .
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THE AUDACIOUS AARDVARK
The AUDACIOUS (daring, bold) aardvark was rooting around in the grass for some lunch with which to ASSUAGE (relieve, lessen) his hunger when his ADROIT(dexterous, agile, nimble) friend Bob the baboon waddled up with ALACRITY (eager willingness, celerity) and ACCOSTED (approached) him. "Hey Man," Bob said, beginning an ALTERCATION (noisy or heated dispute). "Why do you ABASE (lower) yourself in that ATYPICAL (not standard,uncharacteristic) way? I ADVOCATE(support) the AGILE (nimble) use of a knife and fork."
"You are an ass," the aardvark replied politely. "It would be more AESTHETICALLY (appealing to the sense of beauty) pleasing if I were to eat that way, but the use of utensils would be too AFFECTED (put on, faked, a pretense) for a simple aardvark. In addition, I am AVERSE (opposed, disinclined) to such an idea because it might ALLEVIATE (relieve, lessen) my acne, which looks good on me."
"That has to be the APEX (height, zenith) of stupidity," Bob said, AGHAST (in horrified amazement). "And while we're on the subject of your appearance, I must ask you why you are so APATHETIC (disinterested, indifferent) about your hygiene. At least you could AMELIORATE (make better) your looks and odor by taking a bath."
"Never ALLUDE (refer) to my ALLEGED (asserted without evidence, presumed) AVERSION (feeling of strong dislike) to cleanliness again," the aardvark said with AUSTERITY (severity, sternness). "May I remind you that even with your nearly ANTHROPOID (manlike) form, you still pick lice out of strangers' hair."
Sensing that the conversation had gone AWRY (amiss, off the right course) and feeling ABASHED (disconcerted, self-conscious or ashamed), Bob's (daring, boldness) ABATED (subsided, lessened), and he to began to AMASS (collect, pile up) a pile of grubs from the grass.
The characters in this story are entirely fictitious. Any resemblance to real people,or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Berger, Larry et al. UP YOUR SCORE: THE UNDERGROUND GUIDE TO THE SAT, New York, Workman, 1998.
GOODNIGHT from your PSINCERELY PSERIOUS PSAT PEDAGOGUES
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Thurs., June 28, 2007
(hard copy metered and mailed Fri., June 29, 2007)
Dear Parents and PSATers,
The first day of the PSAT Summer Workshop is almost here, and we are brimming with excitement at the prospect of seeing all of our potential National Merit Semifinalists. This group meets the requirement for outstanding achievement, and they’re darn cute, too. So that you and your PSATer will be ready to start, please read the following information:
1. The dates for the workshop are *Monday, July 9, 2007 – Friday, July 20, 2007. *PLEASE NOTE ITEM # 2.
2. The Superintendent of the Madison Co. Schools has asked us to present a forum for district superintendents and principals at their state convention on JULY 17, 2007; therefore, we will NOT MEET on Tuesday, July 17, 2007.
However, we will recapture this lost time on Thursday, July 19, 2007
from 1:00-4:00. To keep from losing time, students should plan to bring a sack lunch and eat on campus. There will NOT be time to leave and then return.
3. We will begin each day at 9:00 AM sharp. Please arrive in time to be in the CHOIR ROOM, ready to begin at 9:00 AM. Park and enter at the rear. Chronic tardiness and absenteeism is a waste of your parents’ money, AND we do notify parents if this becomes a problem.
4. Students from the 10th grade class should bring their PSAT binders; if your PSATer was not in the class, then he/she should bring a 2- or 3-inch binder to hold all materials. Also, each PSATer should bring his/her calculator and pens/pencils.
5. Balances are due on July 9. We will not allow your child to return if balances are not paid on or by this date. Your current balance is listed at the end of this letter.
6. Students who were unable to take the PSAT in the spring should plan to stay on July 9 to take the test. We will start at 1:00 and finish about 4:00. The following students need to take the test:
Balance Due: (SEE "snail-mailed" letter for personal information)
We thank you for the opportunity to continue working with your child. If you have questions, please feel free to call the school at 601-856-7121 or email any of us.
Beverly Daniel email: bdaniel@madison-schools.com
Deborah Reed email: dreed@madison-schools.com
Susan Shivers email: sshivers@madison-schools.com
After a brief RESPITE (rest) during which there was a HIATUS (period of interruption) in posting, we are back with VOLUMINOUS VocabuTales for your EDIFICATION (education and improvement). We understand that you have much summer required reading to complete; therefore, we are ENDEAVORING (trying earnestly) not to make these vocabulary AUGMENTATION (addition in size) activities an ONEROUS (heavy, PONDEROUS, taxing, one to be dreaded) burden.
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Just a reminder to work at number2.com and quizlab as time allows. You'll be glad you did once school starts!
****** Please find Voc. Tale S below. It’s a tale of shocking courtroom shenanigans. When you finish, we’ve provided a list of SHYSTER (sleazy lawyer) jokes to give you a little lift. You might say that these JOCULAR offerings are offered in a JOCOSE vein!
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A SHOCKING COURTROOM SAGA
My sweat glands were working overtime in the STAGNANT (not moving or flowing, motionless and stale) air of the courtroom as I STOLIDLY (showing little emotion or pain; emotionally solid) continued my unscrupulous questioning of the SINISTER (foreboding of evil) defendant on trial for SEDITION (conduct or language inciting rebellion against authority) -- related to the SURREPTITIOUS (done clandestinely -- secretly -- or by stealth) taking away of SUFFRAGE (franchise, right to vote). Although he remained STEADFAST (unwavering) in proclaiming his innocence, the jury was obviously SKEPTICAL (doubting, disbelieving). When I SUPERSEDED (took the place of) him on the courtroom floor, it was clear that the other lawyer’s points were SOPORIFIC (sleep-inducing) compared to my SUPERLATIVE (of the highest order, surpassing all others) arguments. his SCANTY (insufficient, small) arguments were SPARSELY (thinly spread or distributed) filled with SYNTHETIC-sounding (fabricated, not real, man-made) facts and his words STAGNATED as he spoke. He was an obvious SYCOPHANT (servile person who follows and flatters another person in the hope of winning favor), but the judge just sat SOMBERLY (gloomily) in the shadows, SERVILE (submissive, humbly yielding). I was confident. All further speech was SUPERFLUOUS (extra, beyond what is necessary). I know you’ll think me SHIFTLESS (lazy, showing lack of motivation, incompetent) , but I though I could afford to be SLOTHFUL (indolent) and not SUMMON (call forth) any more witnesses. So, SUPERCILIOUSLY (haughtily, conceitedly, disdainfully) I said, “The State rests, your Honor,” I ran out to lunch, and the jury was SEQUESTERED (isolated, set apart, separated).
Two hours later the jury was SUMMONED, and I waited drooling SALACIOUSLY (lecherously, erotically stimulating) , expecting the SUCCULENT (juicy, tasty) word “guilty.” So I was surprised when I heard the word “not” as well. “I’ve been SUBVERTED (undermined or overthrown) and SWINDLED (cheated, defrauded)!” I yelled. Then the bailiff hit me over the head, and I SUBMISSIVELY (yielding to the authority of another) accepted a SEDATIVE (something -- usually a drug-- that calms or tranquilizes).
Now I cultivate SANGUINE (reddish, bloody-colored -- BUT DON’T FORGET ALTERNATIVE MEANINGS like “robust” or “of cheerful or hopeful disposition”!) cattle and lead a much quieter, STATIC (having no motion or change at all) life.
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Riddles
What do you call a lawyer with an I. Q. of 50?
Your honor.
What do you call a lawyer whose gone bad?
Senator.
What is the difference between a lawyer and a trampoline?
You take off your shoes to jump on a trampoline!
In front of you stand four men: Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein and a lawyer. You are holding a gun which contains only three bullets. Who do you shoot?
Use all three bullets on the lawyer.
How can you tell when a lawyer is lying?
His lips are moving.
What is the difference between a dead dog in the road and a dead lawyer in the road?
There are skid marks in front of the dog.
What is the difference between a lawyer and a vulture?
The lawyer gets frequent flyer miles. orVultures can't take their wing tips off.
Why do behavioral scientists prefer lawyers to rats for their experiments?
1) there are more of the lawyers to work with,
2) lawyers are more expendable,
3) lawyers do more harm to society than rats,
4) lab assistants are less likely to develop a bond or feel sympathy for them,
5) rats arouse more feelings of compassion and humanity,
6) they multiply faster,
7) rats have an inate right to life and liberty,
8) animal rights groups will not object to their torture,
9) rats have more dignity, and
10) there are some things even a rat won't do.
What is the only disadvantage to using lawyers instead of rats in laboratory experiments?
It's harder to extrapolate the test results to human beings.
Why won't sharks attack lawyers?
Professional courtesy.
What do have when a lawyer is buried up to his neck in sand?
Not enough sand.
When lawyers die, why are they buried in a hole 24 feet deep?
Because deep down, they are all nice guys!
What do you get when you cross the Godfather with a lawyer?
An offer you can't understand.
KUDOS and PLAUDITS all round! But extra ENCOMIUMS for the following:
TOP SCORER: Matt Grunewald 222........WOW!
CR TOP SCORES: Brennan Plunkett and Garrett Rigby 71
M TOP SCORE: Matt Grunewald 78
W TOP SCORE: Mary Lindsey Simpkins 80.....sheer perfection!
MOST IMPROVED SI: Brandon Rooney with +38 for 200!
MOST IMPROVED CR: Garret Rigby +11
MOST IMPROVED MATH: Brennan Ward +21
MOST IMPROVED WRITING: Brandon Rooney +17
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Our work is cut out for us in three big areas: CRITCAL READING! CRITICAL READING! and CRITICAL READING!!!!! (Just kidding! But CR is our biggest challenge now. Do your practice packet. Don't be DILATORY or DESULTORY.
Our work is cut out for us in math: MAINTAIN and GAIN!
Our work is cut out for us in writing: 1 perfect score, 15 in the 70's, 13 in the 60's, and only 2 in the 50's (56 and 59)...YOWZA! MAINTAIN, MAINTAIN, MAINTAIN! And gain where you can. It's harder to get from a 75 to an 80 than it is to get from a 70 to a 75; it's harder to get from a 65 to a 70 than it is to get from a 60 to a 65, and so on. Choose a goal and FOCUS!
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Weekends......AHHHHH!!! The time for ROMANCE! Are you a real romantic? To test yourself for romantic quality, try "What's Your Dating Style?" quiz @
http://teenadvice.about.com/library/teenquiz/3/blquiz01.htm
Then ask yourself, how articulate am I? We've combined the AMOROUS and the ARTICULATE in the following bedtime VocabuTale for the Letter "R."
**************
A ROMANCE
He was RECUMBENT (lying down) on his bed, RUMINATING (thinking about a lot, cogitating) on his RENASCENT (coming into being again) affair with the countess. She had left him and then REDRESSED (remedied, set right, compensated) their relationship by returning, and they had reached a RAPPROCHEMENT (reconciliation) Now that she was RECIPROCATING (returning mutually) his love, he was once again the happiest man in the REALM (kingdom). Or was he?
There was a rap on the door and the air was suddenly REDOLENT (fragrant) of her perfume. "Darling," she said, opening the door, her face REFULGENT (shining, radiant) with rapture. he frowned as she kissed him, and she laughed. "Really. Don't be such a RECALCITRANT (stubborn) child. You're being altogether too RETICENT (silent, restrained in behavior)." She kissed him again.
He remained REFRACTORY (disobedient, stubborn) and refused to smile. She came over and reclined next to him. "I'm sorry I left you. I had to. I needed room . . . " She began RECAPITULATING (repeating or stating again in a form that is more laconic and much briefer than the manner in which it was initially stated) the RELEVANT (having significant importance) parts of the RECONDITE (abstruse, profound) explanation she had given when she left. he did not respond.
Suddenly there was an explosion on the street below. Riotous sounds reverberated through the air. The countess strode swiftly to the window.
"It's the Roman army. They've been threatening to RAZE (demolish, tear down) the city and now they're on a RAMPAGE (course of wild behavior). A group of soldiers began to batter the front door. "Our only recourse is to run to the roof as rapidly as we can," she RATIOCINATED (thought logically and methodically). She climbed to the roof and crept over to the neighboring building. He hesitated at the gap between the buildings, momentarily paralyzed by the REDOUBTABLE (formidable, frighteningly awe-inspiring) distance to the ground. Then he leapt across, and they raced over the roofs, with the RAPACIOUS (plundering, ravenous, greedy) soldiers running RAMPANT (unrestrained) through the streets below, RAVAGING (plundering) the city. "REMORSELESS (having no regret or feeling of guilt) rogues," she muttered. "They'll change their tune later when they have to RECTIFY (correct, set right) all the damage they're doing."
"Undoubtedly they've RATIONALIZED (justified) their behavior by saying it was the only route left open for them, he replied."
They rested a moment, trying to recover from the exertion. Their faces were RUDDY (having a healthy, reddish color).
"You're wonderfully quick," he remarked.
"I can't REFUTE (disprove) that. I'm also RAVENOUS (extremely hungry). We'll have to risk a reappearance."
The outskirts of town were quiet. They slipped into a restaurant. They were led to a table and gratefully sat down. "Now listen here," he scolded, sipping his red wine. "I want some assurance that you won't run off again and leave me rueing the day I met you."
"Whatever are you RANTING (raving, speaking wildly) about?" she retorted.
He REITERATED (repeated) his request, becoming RILED (upset).
She laughed. "Darling, you're being ridiculous as well as REDUNDANT (repetitive). It's such a bore, really. Relax. I'm here now, and so is our REPAST (meal) at last."
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
As ever (even after workshop’s end), we remain,
Your PERSISTENT PSAT PEDAGOGUES
Well......we gave you Friday off, but we're
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!
We've emailed your score reports to your parents and as soon as
we can catch our breath, we'll send them along to you.
Now for ill-fated CONVOCATION and a few quick vocabulary QUIPS, we turn to Voc. Tales Q.
*************
A QUICK MEETING OF MINDS
“QUORUM (minimum number of people that have to be at a meeting in order for the meeting to be official), QUORUM, we must have a QUORUM!” shouted the leader.
“Why?” asked an idiot. QUALITATIVELY (having to do with quality) speaking, it’s quicker to QUANTIFY (express as a number or amount) the quarks in a quarter.”
“Ahh, we are indeed in a QUAGMIRE (swamp, difficult situation that’s hard to get out of). We need a QUANTITATIVE (capable of being expressed as, or having to do with, a number or quantity) estimate of how many quacks are here.”
“Yes, it is a bit of a QUANDARY (state of uncertainty, dilemma),” spoke another idiot. “I know, why don’t we vote on whether or not to begin the meeting?”
“I have QUALMS (doubts, uneasiness, sudden pangs of sickness or faintness) about doing that,” said the first idiot.
“Quiet, you idiots, or you’ll be QUARANTINED (isolated because of disease)!” quoth the leader.
They QUAILED (drew back in fear) before his wrath, and both felt a bit QUEASY (nauseated, uneasy). “Now then,” said the leader, “don’t be QUERULOUS (complaining, peevish). I have a plan. You may think me somewhat QUIXOTIC (having the same foolish, impractical, romantic idealism as Don Quixote), but I truly believe that if we burst forth with enough clever QUIPS (snappy responses), we might be recognized as not being quite so stupid as we really are. And with that thought in mind, I’d like to close this meeting of the village idiots.”
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Before you PERUSE “Petulant Peanuts,” Installment “P” in our continuing Vocabulary Tales, in order to replace the PAUCITY of your vocabulary with a PLETHORA of PITHY terms, perhaps you should take a moment to practice P.O.E.-ing at www.quizlab.com. Use the classword and password on the handout you received in class today in order to access a couple of POE’s and 50/50’s along with MYRIAD examples of sentence completions taken from REAL SAT’s!
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ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Continue work in packets.
2. Practice online at number2.com and quizlab.com.
3. It's "T" - 12 right now, so get ready for "blast-off" tomorrow.
4. Read! (minimum of 20-30 min.)
And now for the less-than-PERSPICACIOUS story of Phil and Peanuts. You may have seen an equally PEDESTRIAN pair of PARAGONS of PALTRY intellect, whose professional experience parallels that of Phil and Peanuts, in films like Dude, Where’s My Car?
**************
PETULANT PEANUTS
Philip DePance and his coworker, Peanuts Burnes, were on a lunch break from the PHILANTHROPIC (improvement of the world thorough charity; love of humanity in general) firm of “PAUCITY (scarcity, dearth, smallness in number) to PLETHORA (superabundance, excess)” when Phil suddenly asked, “Peanuts, what are we going to do?”
“I guess you should start by changing your name. Have you noticed that it sounds pitiful whether you say Philip DePance, Phil DePAnce of P.DePance?” she replied.
“No, it’s just a PEDESTRIAN (commonplace, ordinary) name! But what I meant was what are we going to do about the company’s PECUNIARY (relating to money) state? We are on a PRECIPICE (cliff, steep overhand) as it is, and if the PORCINE (related to pigs) PEDANT (boring person who knows a lot but has little practical experience) of a boss continues his practices, we’ll be living in PENURY (poverty, destitution) for sure!”
“Well, maybe we could frame him for PILLAGING (robbing violently) the company’s bank account! Rumors are already PERMEATING (spreading or flowing throughout) the office that he has a PENCHANT (strong liking or inclination) for PLUNDERING (robbing, pillaging).”
“Hmm . . . I’m a little PENSIVE (engaged in deep, often sad, thought), But I suppose it is the most POLITIC (shrewd, clever), PRAGMATIC (practical), and PERSPICACIOUS (perceptive, understanding) plan we could think of,” said Phil. “I’m PARCHED (made very dry --or thirsty-- by heating). Let’s start this meal!”
They ordered fruit after the waiter told them that the banana trees were PROLIFIC (fertile, producing lots of offspring, results, or work) at this time of year, and they were brought spotted bananas that seemed PALATABLE (acceptable to the taste, sufficiently good to be edible. Think: plate-able!) enough.
But soon Phil turned PALLID (extremely pale). “My PROBOSCIS (nose) is detecting something PUTRID (decomposed, foul-smelling),” he said.
“Eww!” Peanuts added. “And it’s not PALLIATING (abating, moderating the severity of)! It’s the bananas! I knew those spots PRESAGED (gave an indication or warning of something that will happen in the future) something.”
“Waiter,” Phil called, “We are PETULANT (unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered) already because of PECUNIARY problems and, to make a long story PITHY (concise and meaningful), are too PUSILLANIMOUS (timid, cowardly, wimpy) to PULVERIZE (grind to bits) these bananas properly. You seem PUISSANT (powerful, mighty) enough; do the job before the odor PROLIFERATES (increases or spreads rapidly)!”
“I don’t smell anything,” the waiter replied.
“Oh, don’t PREVARICATE (lie). We will not be PLACATED (appeased, pacified, calmed) until we have PALPABLE (tangible, capable of being touched of felt) proof that the PREVALENT (commonly occurring or existing) filth is gone!” said Peanuts in the fashion of a true PEDAGOGUE (schoolteacher or educator; boring, dry teacher).
PLAINTIVELY ( sad, melancholy), full of PATHOS (quality in something that makes you pity it), the waiter smashed the bananas and took them away. “Even POSTHUMOUSLY (continuing or done after one’s death), my PRECURSOR (predecessor, what came before) still PERFUNCTORILY (done routinely, carelessly, listlessly) makes me look like the PARAGON (model or example of perfection) of poor service! These bananas were planted by him!” he muttered as he walked off.
“Well, I feel better, Peanuts. We could work here!” Phil said, once again PLACID (calm, composed, undisturbed).
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSATer,
As you will soon see, not all love stories have a happy ending. Even though our PROTAGONIST in Voc. Tale O is OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH so serious, his romantic OVERTURES are OBLITERATED by the OBDURATE objections of his only one’s OMNIPOTENT father, a POTENTATE of some power!
But first, check out your assignments:
1. MATH: online at number2.com
2. WRITING: handout, online at number2.com
3. VOCABULARY:
A. Reading: "In Praise of Nepotism" (serious); Kafkaesque parody (silly)
B. Email Mysteries
C. packets (blue, green, crosswords)
*D. prepare to portray the role you drew from the list of PEOPLE YOU
MEET ON THE PSAT
E. Teach Dave Barry Some Big Words!
4. CRITICAL READING - online at number2.com
5. ANY LATE WORK!
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A FAIRY TALE
I went to the king, seeking to marry his daughter, but he was OBDURATE (hardened against good influence) in his refusal. I was OBSEQUIOUS (fawning, too easily compliant), but he was an ODIOUS (offensive, hateful) and OBSTREPEROUS (unruly, defiant, boisterous) man who kicked me out of the OPULENT (rich) palace because I was not pleasing to his OLFACTORY (pertaining to the sense of smell) sense. I went away, determined to OBTRUDE (force oneself or one’s ideas on others) my marital aspirations on him by raising an army and assaulting his OMNIPOTENT (all-powerful) forces. However, my own forces were blown to OBLIVION (state of being totally forgotten).
I then went to see OMNISCIENT (all-knowing) Olga, an old one-eyed witch who dealt in the OCCULT (pertaining to supernatural phenomena) and OSCILLATED (swung back and forth) between sanity and insanity. When I arrived at the ORIFICE (small hole, opening, or vent) that led to her cave, she OGLED (stared at) me with her one eye as though I was OBTUSE (stupid, or thick-headed) to visit her. She advised me to go and be of service to the king, to offer to carry out every ONEROUS (burdensome) task, OSTENSIBLY (apparently, seemingly) out of the kindness of my heart, but really to penetrate the castle and elope with the princess.
I made my way to the OSTENTATIOUS (showy, pretentious) royal city. As I OVERTLY (openly and observably, not hidden) approached the gate, however, and OFFICIOUS (obnoxious and pushy in giving opinions) guard informed me that I had been OSTRACIZED (banished, excluded) from the kingdom. heartbroken, I left and went to seek my fortune selling doorknobs to nomads.
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Brought to you OSTENSIBLY for your EDIFICATION, but also for your AURAL, if not olifactory enjoyment by . . .
Although you were NAIEVE NOVICES and NEOPHYTES, your NASCENT vocabulary skills are growing and maturing. We hope you are no longer NONPLUSSED by the NOISOME test and its NOXIOUS pitfalls ("suker bait"). Understanding the NUANCES of test construction (POWER TEST -- easy, medium, and hard) and knowing the necessary tips will help you NEGOTIATE the NOTORIOUS obstacle NONCHALANTLY. If you apply your indomitable will to practice your skills, virtually all attempts by ETS to NULLIFY your build-up points through the nauseating guessing penalty, will be NUGATORY! Through dogged practice you will become the apotheosis of excellence, a paragon -- NONPAREIL!
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ASSIGNMENTS:
1. CRITICAL READING - SCs: C & E, Syn., +/-/0, & mixed practice
2. VOCABULARY:
A. blue MVP packet
B. You Meet on the PSAT Cwd. Packet
C. READ! (If you haven't read the five great equations piece, start!
D. Email Mysteries
E. Vocabulary Builder at number2.com
F. VocabTale
*G. Write your "SNAPS" note!
3. MATH: Sec. 4
4. Online: practice at number2.com
Now, for tonight's VocabuTale, brought to you by the letter "N":
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A VILLAIN’S DEATH
The NEFARIOUS (evil) villain had reached the NADIR (absolutely lowest point) of his NOTORIOUS (famous for something bad, INFAMOUS) career. He had run into his NEMESIS (vengeful enemy), Nice Ned, the sheriff, after stealing some counterfeit cash -- he often didn’t notice the NUANCES (subtle variation in color, meaning, or some other quality) of forged bills. Now he lay dying from two fatal earlobe wounds near a NOISOME (offensive, disgusting, filthy, malodorous) junkyard in the desert.
Looking back, he recalled his NASCENT (emerging, coming into being) life as an outlaw. He had started as a NAIVE (lacking in worldly wisdom or experience) NOVICE (beginner) in New York, but when the NOXIOUS (harmful to health or morals) city fumes got to him, he headed west, where a NOVEL (new, unusual, different) future awaited him. In later years, no longer a NEOPHYTE (beginner), his NONCHALANT (appearing casual, cool indifferent, “chilled out”) attitude had left him NONPLUSSED (perplexed, baffled) . Now nearly dead, he wanted to establish a NEXUS (bond or link between things) with his lost youth, but it was too late.
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Hoping you are not NONPLUSSED (or NONPLUSED is an acceptable spelling, as well) by these NOVEL “N” words,
Welcome back to another action-packed week of math, writing, and critical reading! FELICITATIONS and CONGRATULATIONS, RACONTEURS (great storytellers) and writers! No OPPROBRIUM (ignominy, shame).....only APPROBATION for PUNGENT (sharp, zesty, biting) PARODIES! You are both ACUTE and ASTUTE! We appreciate the AMICABLE and JOCULAR approach , even when you were skewering us with a LAMPOON’s barb. And we especially appreciate the PAEANS and tributes to PSAT PEDAGOGUES! KUDOS all around!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Don’t forget tomorrow is LEGALLY BLONDE DAY, totally!
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ASSIGNMENTS:
1. WRITING PACKET (more prizes coming!)
2. MATH (Test Sec.)
3. VOCABULARY:
A. OBLIVIOUS #3
B. Teach Dave Barry…
C. Work packets, crosswords, and flashcards
D. Email MYSTERIES
4. Spend some time at number2.com.
WARNING: Geometry Ball is INCOMING tomorrow! To be introduced by Paige LeBlanc and her priceless parody: “The Three Little Pedagogues”! Don’t miss it! (And it wouldn’t hurt to look over your formulas!)
Now, it’s time for a bit of history with a big vocabulary M-pact! hmmmmmmMMMMMMMMM!!! For the BULK of history, men believed that MALARIA was caused by MIASMAS. We know that it is not the much-MALIGNED bad air which carries the MINUSCULE and MALEVOLENT disease germ, but the pesky MOSQUITO.
Now MEANDER through your nightly Voc. Tale . Tonight’s tale features the letter “M.” Hope you enjoy “Mark’s Problems,” below!
*************
MARK’S PROBLEMS
In a small MARITIME (near the sea, concerned with shipping or navigation), no make that “Madison County,” village, there lived a MOROSE (sullen, depressed) musician named Mark. Most of the citizens were MAGNANIMOUS (noble, generous, forgiving, magnificently kind) to him because he was a METICULOUSLY (extremely careful and precise) clean MENDICANT (beggar), but there was a MINUSCULE-brained (very tiny) MALEVOLENT (wishing evil upon others, malicious, the opposite of benevolent) gang in town who MALICIOUSLY (with evil intent) MALIGNED (slandered, said bad thing about) him. “Hey, Mark,” they would yell. “You’re more MALODOROUS (stinky) than a moo-cow.” Yeah, ‘Mark’ is a MISNOMER (inappropriate or wrong name): you should be called Moo-k!”
Mark bore the MENDACIOUS (lying) gang no MALICE (spite, the desire to do evil to others), though he wished he could, through some ingenious MANEUVER (skillful or clever move), MEANDER (wander around aimlessly) through the town’s MYRIAD (many, lots, a very large amount) streets without these MONOTONOUS (boring, repetitious) MORDANT (bitingly sarcastic or nasty) MALEDICTIONS (spoken curses). He grew MELANCHOLY (sad, depressed, PENSIVE) and suffered from a great MALAISE (feeling of illness or depression) as he MOROSELY contemplated their MALIGNANCY(malevolent and malicious acts). He could be found sitting, listening to the MELLIFLUOUS (sweet sounding, flowing with honey or sweetness) sounds of jazz and classical trumpet, with a virtual MIASMA (poisonous atmosphere or cloud) over him, snuffling quietly. There, that story wasn’t so MACABRE (gross, ghastly, suggestive of horrible death and decay), was it?
adapted from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
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ASSIGNMENTS: Scroll down to Friday's posting
to access a list of assignments.
One thing PSAT Workshops lack is LONGEVITY (long
life). They seem LILLIPUTIAN (minute, extremely small)
in comparison with regular school, don’t they? We
LAMENT (mourn, grieve) their EPHEMERAL (quickly passing,
transient) nature, and we LOATHE (detest) losing you.
As somebody named Will once noted, parting is INDEED
such sweet sorrow! Let us CAPITALIZE (take advantage
of, make the most of) the brief time together which
remains.. . one more week!
REMEMBER that we have programed 30 hours of practice into
the workshop because educational research demonstrates
that thirty hours of practice = necessary to net a
significant score increase. But those must be ACTIVE
hours! So let's get ready to rumble tomorrow!
And now for tonight’s bedtime VocabuTale (brought to
you by the letter "L," here’s........
************************
An Open and Frank Note from the Authors
With such words in this list as LEWD (indecent,
obscene), LICENTIOUS (immoral, morally wild or
sexually unrestrained), and LECHEROUS (lewd, lustful)
in the L’s, you’re probably looking forward to a great
story. Well, you won’t find one here, but not because
we were too LACKADAISICAL (uncaring, lacking in interest
or spirit) or LANGUID (lacking energy, weak). We
actually did write a pretty LASCIVIOUS (lusty, lewd)
one, but instead of LAUDING (praising) it, the editor
LOATHED (hated) it. After she read it, she LITHELY
(gracefully, supplely, limberly) LAMBASTED (thrashed,
mauled, beat, whipped, or bludgeoned with big things
and other than fun stuff; to scold sharply or rebuke)
us with LETHAL (deadly) cans of lima beans (We suspect
they were obtained through LARCENY), lacerating our
ligaments. This made us a bit LUGUBRIOUS (mournful
or sad), but we were willing to LUCUBRATE (study hard
and in a scholarly fashion) some more and come up with
a new story. But when she LACONICALLY (briefly,
tersely, concisely, succinctly) called us ‘LIMACINE
(pertaining to or resembling a slug -- This word won’t
be on the test, but you may find it useful, particularly
]if you have younger siblings) idiots,” we left,
suddenly overcome by our LATENT (potential but not
yet displayed) LETHARGY (sluggishness, indifference),
LANGUOR (sluggishness, lack of energy), and LASSITUDE
(listlessness, state of exhaustion or weakness). And
so, in protest, we didn’t do an L story. Humblest
apologies. We hope you will forgive us.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The
Underground Guide to the SAT. New York:
Workman, 1998.
Lexicographical ignorance LAMBASTED by
Your PSAT PEDAGOGUES
##############
See Friday's posting below for assignments. PLEASE NOTE
deadline change on writing for prize.
I'm afraid your RACONTEURS are a bit LACONIC (of few words) tonight. Tonight's tale is the tale of the JADED JINGOIST. It's CONCISE, SUCCINCT, yes, even TERSE, but not PROSAIC or PEDESTRIAN in the least!
For the CLASSIC poop (or EXCREMENT for those of you with SCATALOGICAL fixations) on the ULTIMATE JADED JINGOIST, go to Blockbuster and rent Citizen Kane, Orson Well's masterpiece based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, America's most famous jingoist.
Well-educated people "in the know" experience no PERPLEXITY when other equally well-versed individuals ALLUDE to "ROSEBUD." If you don't "get it," read this first for your vocabulary's sake, then rush right out to get IT (Citizen Kane) for cultural literacy's sake! If you'd like to read more about this LANDMARK film, this cinematic WATERSHED, go to
http://www.filmsite.org/citi.html. If you'd like to borrow a copy of the video, come by Room A-186.
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CRIME DOESN'T PAY
The JINGOIST (extreme patriot) became JADED (wearied, especially by too much of the good life). He didn't feel as JOCOSE (merry, joking), JOCULAR (jolly, joking), or JOCUND (merry, jolly) as he once did. Eventually, he turned to KNAVERY (dishonest, mischievous dealing) , robbing from KIOSKS (pavilion or small open booth where items are bought or sold). It was KISMET (fate)that he got caught. It takes a little KEN (range of knowledge) to be a KLEPTOMANIAC (compulsive thief) -- a lesson for us all!
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Let this message be absolutely PERSPICUOUS! If you wish to avoid an IMPASSE on your PSAT, you must be an INDOMITABLE student with an INSATIABLE intellectual appetite and an IMPECCABLE vocabulary! You also need to be INDEFATIGABLE in your efforts! (Remember......the next date for a practice PSAT to be taken by MC’s EMINENT scholars = IMMINENT—next Friday! If you want the light of excellence to EMINATE from your answer sheet, you must recognize that laziness is PROSCRIBED and practice is PRESCRIBED! INCIPIENT skills must be nurtured in order to mature; without a good diet of practice, your skills will ATROPHY and your test performance will be INSIPID.
###################
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. MATH (next test section & sheet)
2. WRITING (2 packets)******PLEASE NOTE DEADLINE CHANGE: the packet for individual rewards, the one entitled "Part B: Multiple Choice Section," will not be due until Tuesday. You may thank Matt g. for this REPRIEVE. It has been granted due to the COGENT argument he presented when LOBBYING for this extension. The other packet, however, is still due MONDAY!
3. VOCAB.
A. Work on blue stuff and People You Meet on the
PSAT packet.
B. Card and cull.
C. ONLINE: Email Mysteries, VocabuTale, & flashcards
D. Dave Barry for Tues.
4. Work along on number2.com as time allows.
Tonight's VocabuTale is brought to you by the letter I ...
**********************
SIX IRASCIBLE FOOLS
Paige, Bailey, Brandon, Brad, Kristen, and Matt were traveling INCOGNITO (in disguise) in the INCOMMODIOUS (lacking space, not commodious) bus. They had reached an IMPASSE (dead end) in their INDOMITABLE (unconquerable, impossible to dominate) attempts to think of sentences for the PSAT "I's" and were nearly INSENSATE (unconscious, lacking sensation) with INDOLENCE (laziness).
"Hey, Matt, do you have any INGENIOUS (original, resourceful) ideas for 'INSCRUTABLE (enigmatic, difficult to understand),' you INEPT (incompetent) fool?" Brandon inquired.
Matt's face remained IMPASSIVE (without emotion, expressionless). "You know you're just INCITING (arousing, instigating) me to anger with your INSIPID (lacking excitement, VAPID) INVECTIVE (abusive put-down). If you continue this IMPROPRIETY (improper, without displaying propriety) , this INVIDIOUS (offensive, making people angry) behavior, I'll become IRASCIBLE (easily provoked, irritable)."
"Are we to infer that you are questioning Brandon's IMPECCABLE (flawless and faultless) integrity by implying that he acted in an IGNOBLE (not noble) manner?" Paige interjected INGENUOUSLY (innocently, showing childlike simplicity) "I'm sure he couldn't stand the IGNOMINY (dishonor, disgrace)."
"If you all don't shut up, I'll be forced to IMPALE (to pierce with a sharp stake or point) you. Especially since you IMBIBED (drank in, absorbed) my iodine," Bailey-Boop shouted.
"There seems to be an INSIDIOUS (working or spreading stealthily, sneaking inside to do something bad -- NOT to be confused with "INVIDIOUS") force at work among us," Brad added. "Our INCONTROVERTIBLY (indisputably) INSATIABLE (impossible to satisfy) desire to help our fellow PSAT scholars is failing!"
"But what, ho!" Kristen exclaimed. "I believe our destination is IMMINENT (about to occur, impending)."
So the bus stopped, and they got off, continuing to argue INCESSANTLY (nonstop, ceaselessly).
adapted from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Undergrounnd Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
INCESSANTLY yours,
THE DIDACTIC DUO + ONE, otherwise known as your PERSPICACIOUS PSAT PEDAGOGUES … and, when particularly IRASCIBLE, the TERMAGANT TRIO!
FELICITATIONS! Congratulations on a FABULOUS Jeopardy
Game! It was especially pleasing to us after the Sentence
Completion Relay DEBACLE (fiasco, terrible disaster)
yesterday! Good job on the 50/50 Correct/Incorrect
Relay today, as well! But don't rest on your LAURELS
(wreaths of laurel leaves crowned the victor in ancient
times)!
After you check our your assignments and read about
the ill-fated HOMILY (sermonlike speech) of the HIRSUIT
(hairy) priest below, it's back to the grindstone.
#########################
ASSIGNMENTS: Don't forget the FOOD, glorious FOOD and the
GARBAGE BAG!
1. MATH - Worksheet & general practice/study on weaknesses
(Your quiz grades are absolutely APPALLING! LEARN THE
FORMULAS WHICH YOU DON'T KNOW!)
2. Vocabulary -
A. PSAT Parody is due tomorrow (hard copy to be
turned in at class; digital copy to be emailed.
B. Work on blue stuff and People You Meet on the
PSAT packet.
C. Card and cull.
D. ONLINE: Email Mysteries & VocabuTale
3. CRITICAL READING: Sentence Completions (Definitional,
#1-10), Work using tactics. ID tactics useful for each.
4. Work along at number2.com as time allows.
Remember that merely desiring (even EARNESTLY) a spiking
score will not SUFFICE (be sufficient or enough). To a
chieve a point PRECIPICE (high point, brink), you must
exert the INDOMITABLE (that which cannot be controlled
or dominated) will and personal discipline required to
do your DISCOMMODING (causing inconvenience, disturbing)
and DISCOMFITING (disconcerting, confusing) daily drill!
To PLUS or not to PLUS, to fill-in-the-blank, to do the
2nd first, to OBLITERATE (wipe out, destroy completely)
what you eliminate -- all TACTICS must become second nature,
INHERENT in your approach to S.C.'s! Too bad they
aren't INNATE (inborn)!
----THE END of this HARANGUE
(tirade; long, noisy speech delivered in a vehement manner)
This HARANGUE (tirade) is brought to you by your friendly,
neighborhood PSAT PEDAGOGUES (teachers) who are rapidly
turning into the TERMAGANT (shrewish woman) TRIO as a
result of your massive ABDICATION (to renounce or relinquish
formally) of your responsibility to practice!
P.S. Don’t forget to
(1) print out a hard copy of tonight’s VocabulTale
for your notebook!
(2) make vocabulary flashcards for word contained
below that you don’t know!
*******************
THE HOMILY
The HIRSUTE (hairy) young priest was preparing
his HOMILY (sermonlike speech), and he needed advice
from the HOARY (gray or white from age, old) HAGGARD
(wasted, worn) pastor.
"I gotta give a good talk so I can move up
in the church HIERARCHY (social structure, social
pecking order)," he explained. "Can you help me?"
"You speak on HALLOWED (holy, sacred) ground,"
the pastor began," so don't HARANGUE (mean, nasty, angry
speech or tirade) and be not HAUGHTY (proud, vain,
arrogant). Don't forget to condemn HEINOUS (grossly
wicked, vile, odious) HEDONISM (philosophy of trying to
be happy all the time; a funky state of being in which
you do your own thing and don't worry about morality),
though. A good public response to your sermon will be
a HARBINGER (forerunner, something that signals the
approach of something, omen) of your advancement."
The priest worked all night, searching for HACKNEYED
(overused, trite)expressions and hip HOMONYMS (word
that sounds like another word but has a different
meaning). But when dawn came, he just said, "Oh,
the heck with it."
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The
Underground Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
This HYPOTHETICAL (not actual, but supposed)
tale and the HUFFY HULABALOO are brought to you
through the HERCULEAN (requiring great strength)
efforts of the TEST-SKILLS TRIUMVIRATE!
KUDOS & ACCOLADES to today's Geometry Ball and S.C. Relay winners!
I'm DILATORY (tardy) with this posting, but not DESULTORY (without direction). I've had a PLETHORA (lots and LOTS) of things to do for
you & the decathletes. I am JUST returning to my DOMICILE (place of residence), also known as the humble ABODE (domicile).
Unlike Cher’s and Dionne’s, it is not an imposing EDIFACE (building,
esp. an impressive one!) Nor is it COMMODIOUS or CAPACIOUS (large,
very roomy). Although we are not MENDICANT or INDIGENT (poor), a
couple of teachers' salaries won't get us into Annandale! We PEDAGOGUES, however, receive INNUMERABLE (too many to count) INTANGIBLE (that
which cannot be touched because it does not exist in the realm of the physical) rewards....COPIOUS (abundant) blessings! Like we get to
torture you guys with the Geometry Ball (coming back at you soon)!
Talk about fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And, speaking of fun, you've got a night of it ahead with these
assignments/
#####################
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Math (sheet, rest of Sec. 2, + "bone-up" on stuff for Geometry
Ball!)
2. Vocabulary (-- Oblivious #2, PPT flashcards (see link above --
next to last one!), blue stuff, email mysteries, and -- of course --
work on your PSAT parody! (CARD & CULL,too!)
3. WRITING: Error ID & Confusing Words
4. Practice at number2.com
Now it’s time to move from “F” to “G” in our Vocabulary Tales.
Let’s do it with a FRACTURED FAIRY TALE (ah-ha! a popular
type of parody!). You've enjoyed "THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF"
for years. Try out this more OBSCURE (lesser-known) and
ERUDITE (scholarly) version, brought to you the letter G and
your favorite PSAT RACONTEURS (skilled story-tellers)!
********************
LESSER-KNOWN ADVENTURE OF THE
THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF
The three Billy Goats GRUFF (rough or stern in aspect
or speech) met in the GLOAMING (twilight) near the bridge.
“I’m really scared of that GRUESOME (grisly, gory)
troll, “ Billy Goat #1 said, GESTICULATING (gesturing,
signaling with hands and arms) toward the bridge. Despite
her GOSSAMER (light, delicate, insubstantial) gown, she doesn’t
seem too GREGARIOUS (friendly, outgoing, sociable).”
“I won’t GAINSAY (deny, dispute, say something against
what someone else says) that, and I heard her GOURMET (one
who appreciates fine food and drink, EPICURE, CONNOISSEUR)
appetite includes a GRISLY (gory) taste for goat’s hooves!”
BG #2 added nervously. “I really don’t like GRATUITOUS
(unnecessary or unwarranted) violence.”
Cowards!” BG #3 GIBED (heckled or mocked, taunted,
picked on). “I don’t listen to nonGERMANE (relevant, appropriate)
GARBLED (confused, mixed up) GIBBERISH (rapid, incomprehensible,
or nonsensical speaking; DRIVEL) that only GULLIBLE (believing
anything) fools like you would believe. I bet that troll is
really a cool gal. Watch me cross that bridge!”
“You have a GRANDIOSE (excessively impressive or grand)
opinion of yourself, but you’re really pretty dumb. So long,
bud,” Goat #1 replied with a GRIMACE (twisted facial expression),
anticipating the GRAPHIC (vivid, explicit) goat-mutilation horror
that soon followed.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground
Guide to the SAT. New York: workman, 1998.
To all our wonderful word CONNOISSEURS,
From your favorite RACONTEURS (story-tellers),
the TEACHING TRIUMVIRATE
FELICITATIONS! Good News. Ms. Daniel is a GRANDmother, again! Mary Huntley arrived around noon today.
Don't forget that tomorrow is THAT 70's DAY! We've been so busy that we really haven't pulled your little chains and revved you up for the fun. (So sorry, but your pretest scores threw us for a bit of a loop, so we hit the academic part hard & heavy!) The pictures always provide great memories (especially the one's that make it into the yearbook!
#################
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. MATH - Pretest Sec. 2, #11-20 (Show how you worked each. Try again on any you missed!)
2. VOCABULARY:
A. Teach Dave Barry some BIG words?
B. OBLIVIOUS Episode #2 (Clueless)
C. Work on PSAT parody.
D. Check email for mysteries. If you aren't getting them, email Ms. S. at sshivers@madison.k12.ms.us.
E. Read your nightly VocabuTale.
F. Work along in packet.
G. Highlight & card. Practice & cull.
3. WRITING: Error ID
4. NUMBER2.COM: Get started & work as time allows.
5. REMINDER: The most important FOOD GROUP is the group that's bringing tomorrow's goodies (SUCCULENT MORSELS). Don't forget.
Installment F in our Vocabulary Tales is a very FISHY tale indeed. (Smells kinda' PISCINE -- fishlike. It is designed to FORTIFY your PSAT vocabulary. (We're not being FACETIOUS here!) If you can't read it with FACILITY and w/o FALTERING, fill the FISSURES in your knowledge by FAMILIARIZING yourself with the parenthetical information provided.
***************************
FRED THE FILCHER
Freddy has a FLAGRANT (deliberately conspicuous, glaring) FOIBLE (weakness, flaw). He FILCHED (stole) fish, sometimes with FERVOR (passion) and sometimes with FORBEARANCE (patience), but he never FLUCTUATED (made irregular variation) from his FORTE (strong point -- pronounced FOR-tay). One day his mother, returning from the garden -- which was FECUND (fertile) with fish remains -- said FACETIOUSLY (joking or jesting) , "Freddy, is it FEASIBLE (workable, plausible, possible) that you'll FOMENT (stir up, agitate, incite) a FETID (smelly) FULMINATION (explosion, roar, loud denouncement) of fish odor if you continue to FRENETICALLY (frenzied, frantic) FLAUNT (show off) your FILCHING habits?"
FROWARD (stubborn, obdurate) Freddy frowned. "That is a FATUOUS (inane, foolish) as well as FALLACIOUS (false, incorrect) suggestion." Then he uttered the following FASTIDIOUSLY (careful about details, impossible to satisfy) crafted rationalization. "This FACET (side, aspect, or face of something) of my abilities is not FUTILE (completely ineffective) , as it provides fish for our otherwise FRUGAL (sparing in expense, stingy, miserly) dinner. You should FAWN (grovel, be overly admiring)over me, not FULMINATE against me."
The preceding story is FICTITIOUS (false, not genuine), FABRICATED (invented or made up often in order to deceive) by the authors.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
All glory, LAUD (praise), and honor to Reese's Ice-cream-eating Pirates Who Swim in Hawaii, a.k.a., Kim Pettit, Saysha Sebren, and Amber Twiner, for today's breaktime REPAST (meal). Like Cher in Clueless, you may BASK (warm yourselves as in the sunshine) in the warm glow of public APPROBATION (praise, commendation). We SAVORED (tasted with pleasure or zest) every bite, GOURMETS (a CONNOISSEUR -- one who is qualified because of his expert knowledge and discriminating taste to pass critical judgment on something, esp. wine or food --of fine food and drink) and GOURMANDS (one who is fond of fine food and drink) alike. That spread would tickle any EPICURE's (gourmet, gourmand) palate.
#################
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. MATH:
A. For Tuesday - Review FORMULAS! (We smell a quiz coming!)
B. For Wed. - Pretest Sec. 2, #11-20 (Tell how you got your answer.
2. WRITING: Error ID (Find error. ID type)
3. CRITICAL READING:
A. For tomorrow: OBLIVIOUS (Clueless) Fill-ins
B. Work on vocab. packets and email mysteries
C. For Wed.: teach Dave Barry some big words!
4. PARODIES due FRIDAY! (email Ms. S. digital copy & turn in hard copy)
5. Read & download your nightly VocabuTale.
6. ASSIGNED GROUP must bring snacks.
Now for a bedtime story from your favorite RACONTEURS(excellent story tellers.........
Today we explore VOCABULARY through VEGETABLES. (That means we'll use FLORA as opposed to FAUNA). PERUSE installment E in our Vocabulary Tales -- that's "E" for "EDIFICATION"!
***********************
ESSAY ON EGGPLANT
I want to know which ERUDITE (scholarly) vegetable maker invented eggplant. If he is dead, I will EXHUME (disinter, to remove from a grave) his coffin and EFFACE (erase, rub out) the EPITAPH (memorial text carved on a tombstone) from his tombstone. If he is alive, I will burn him in EFFIGY (dummy or mannequin, usually for symbolic torturing--you know......like the Brits do to Guy Fawkes every year!) and ensure he will not be EULOGIZED (speech of praise at one's funeral) when he dies. Eggplant is the EPITOME (something that perfectly represents an entire class of things; embodiment -- pronounced eh-PIT-oh-me) of bad vegetables and its destruction is EXIGENT (urgent, requiring immediate attention) . I ESCHEW (avoid, shun) eating it. Its badness is almost ETHEREAL (not of the material world) . I would rather become EMACIATED (excessively thin, weak) than eat eggplant. This is an EXACTING (demanding) demand, but would someone please EDIFY (enlighten, educate) me, without being ESOTERIC (known only by a few people) or EQUIVOCAL (ambiguous, capable of two interpretations) , as to one good thing about eggplant? It's mushy, it has seeds, it makes my tongue itch, it has a dopey name, and it tastes like the droppings that an EQUESTRIAN (pertaining to horsemen or horsemanship)slob forgot to clean up. I wish all the soil on the world's eggplant farms would ERODE (to diminish or destroy by small amounts) . Just thinking about eggplant makes me EFFETE (tired, barren, decadent), Oh and get this -- when eggplants fertilize each other, the round ones with lots of seeds are the female ones and the long, narrow ones are the males. And they do it EBULLIENTLY (bubbly, overflowing with excitement) in public, in front of all the other vegetables. What would happen if humans EMULATED (to imitate closely) this behavior?
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Don’t be DEJECTED, DISCONSOLATE, (depressed and downhearted) or DISTRAUGHT (anxious, worried, distressed) if your vocabulary suffers from a PAUCITY (smallness of number, few) of PSAT words. Many Merit scholars faced a similar DEARTH (scarcity, paucity) at this point in their academic careers , but they were not DETERRED (prevented or discouraged from happening) by the DAUNTING (discouraging) task ahead.
DAUNTLESS (fearless, undeterred by fear, INTREPID), they FORGED (1. advanced gradually but steadily: forged ahead through throngs of shoppers; 2. advanced with an abrupt increase of speed: forged into first place with seconds to go) ahead with their studies. These DISCERNING (perceptive) PSATers chose to be DYNAMIC (energetic, vigorous, forceful) rather than DESULTORY (directionless, aimless, rambling, haphazard, disconnected, without goals) and DILATORY (tardy).
##################
ASSIGNMENTS: Be DYNAMIC! Check the assignment list on Friday's post to be sure you are ready for tomorrow. KUDOS to Amber Twiner, who caught the typo on the perfect cubes. Thanks to her, it's fixed!
Check for mysterious mail in your email inbox. We'll also be sending along some silliness to accompany tonight's tale.
Now for your Nighty-night VocabuTale, brought to you by the letter "D"!
*********************
THE DISTRAUGHT DOGCATCHER
Dan was DISTRAUGHT He knew he'd soon have to go up to the DAIS (raised platform) and declare his candidacy for dogcatcher. He knew he was DEVOID (completely lacking, void, empty, without)of charisma and not a DYNAMIC (energetic, vigorous, forceful) speaker. He wasn't even DEXTEROUS (adroit or skillful in the use of hands or body) at catching canines. Doubtless, he would DEBASE (to lower in quality or value, adulterate) himself by speaking like a DERANGED (having a severe mental disorder, being insane) fool.
Trying to appear DAUNTLESS (bold), he shambled forward with a DEARTH (scarcity, paucity) of enthusiasm. He tried to picture his audience all in DIAPHANOUS (translucent, gossamer) gowns, but it did not help his mood at all.
"Ahem," he began, but was DETERRED (prevented or discouraged from happening) from continuing when he DESCRIED discerned, caught sight of something which is difficult to catch sight of) the DIABOLICAL (fiendish, devilish, nastily scheming) Great Dane that was rapidly DEPLETING (lessening the supply or content of) his audience by devouring them. Feeling this DEVASTATION (ruin by violent action) might DEROGATE (detract, take away from) his speech, Dan's thoughts were thrown into sudden DISCORD (lack of harmony), and he felt a DRASTIC (severe) need to DEFENESTRATE (the act of throwing something out of the window -- It's HIGHLY unlikely you'll see this on the PSAT. However, you may wish to DEFENESTRATE your PSAT Proctor!) himself. Using himself as a DECOY (lure or bait) to get the beast's attention, he DEMURRED (objected mildly), "ummmmmm. . . please stop!" People DISCERNED (detected by use of the senses) his foolishness.
Later that day, a supporter DISPARAGED (belittled, reduced in esteem) Dan's speech. "It was rather DESULTORY (aimless, rambling, haphazard, disconnected). DIVERS (several) DIVERSE (distinct, varied, differing) rumors have been DISSEMINATED (dispensed or distributed) that he is DEPRAVED (morally corrupt, debased, perverted). We'll have trouble DELUDING (deceiving) the public into believing the contrary."
As ever, DEPLETING the dictionary in the service of EXPONENTIALLY expanding your vocabulary,
Yours truly, THE DIDACTIC DUO + ONE
(See 6/7/06 -- Friday -- below for a list reminding you of your assignments.)
If you wish to be counted among the PSAT COGNOCENTI (persons who have or claim to have special knowledge and appreciation of a particular field; CONNOISSEURS), you must expand those sorely CIRCUMSCRIBED (limited, narrow) LEXICONS (dictionary, particular vocabulary). Only a COPIOUS (brimful, abundant) lexicon will SUFFICE (be enough or sufficient)!
We hope you will enjoy a BURGEONING (rapidly growing, flourishing) vocabulary. By October, it will be PRODIGIOUS (huge, extraordinarily large)! But PSAT skills MUST be practiced. Were you listening in class? Ms. D's INCISIVE (cutting to the heart of the matter) analysis is correct. You have demonstrated SCINTILLATING (sparkling) intellects; now where's that INDOMITABLE WILL??
Remember, the key words here are ATROPHY (a wasting away, deterioration, or diminution)and ENTROPY (The tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity; the inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society). You may add a PLETHORA (large amount) of new words to your LEXICON (dictionary, vocabulary), but if you don't USE them, you'll LOSE them!
We've developed the Great PSAT Email Mystery Quest in order to provide you the opportunity to attack intellectual ATROPHY by interacting with us in "PSAT-speak." You'll notice that all MISSIVES (letters) accompanying Mysteries are written in that somewhat ARCANE (specialized, known only to the few "insiders") language!
If you read these MISSIVES (letters) and reply in kind, you'll get plenty of practice using your PSAT words....And when you're USING them, you aren't LOSING them!
So, check your email and we’re on to tonight’s VocabuTale with CELERITY (swiftness, speed)! Dust off your SLEUTHING (detective) skills and dive into
another
It was one of those steamy nights when the sky is lousy with stars. I was enjoying a CATHARTIC (cleansing, allowing a release of tension or emotion) CEREBRATION (thought)and CULLING (selecting, weeding out) the blue M & M's CACHE in the office of the Sure-Lock Homes Locksmith and Detective Agency. Suddenly, my COGITATIONS (ruminations, deep and careful thinking) were interrupted by a CACOPHONOUS (sounding discordant, terrible and generally unpleasant to listen to, opposite of "euphonious") sound and a cataclysmic vibration that reverberated through my CAPACIOUS (spacious) office. I stepped with CIRCUMSPECTION (prudence, caution) into the hall because I was afraid someone might be up to some CHICANERY (trickery). I found a CHAOTIC (utter confusion) scene: a CORPULENT (obese, fat bodied) man lying CONTORTED (twisted, bent) at the bottom of the stairs. Blood was gushing though a wound in his side, and I could see the CILIATED (having tiny hairs) lining of his small intestine. I decided to take charge.
I said with COMPUNCTION (strong uneasiness caused by guilt; remorse, contrition), "Golly, are you okay?"
He replied CAUSTICALLY ((burning, characterized by a bitter wit) , "Sure, I'm just swell. And how was your day?"
"Peachy," I said.
At that he bellowed CHOLERICALLY (hot-temperedly). "You CALLOUS (unfeeling, unsympathetic) piece of CARRION (rotting flesh)! Can't you see I've been shot? Did you think this hole in my chest was a CONGENITAL (existing at birth) condition? Get me to a hospital with CELERITY (swiftness, speed)!"
"You don't have to be so CAPTIOUS (fault-finding), CANTANKEROUS (ill-natured, quarrelsome), and CHURLISH (boorish, rude). Let me COGITATE (think deeply and carefully, ruminate)!"
"If I don't have this wound CAUTERIZED (to burn tissue), I'll be a CADAVER (corpse)."
At that moment a comely broad walked into the office. She COMPORTED (behaved in a particular way) herself calmly. She was voluptuous and yet seemed CHASTE (pure, unspoiled, virginal). I was overcome with CONCUPISCENT (relating to sexual desire, lustful) thoughts that should be CENSORED (removed due to inappropriate nature). She pointed at the wounded man and said, "We were in my apartment; he got up to answer the door, and suddenly I heard a CACOPHONOUS sound and a cataclysmic vibration that must have reverberated in your CAPACIOUS office.
Just then my assistant, Watt, entered. he said, handing me the phone, "My kid wants to know what sort of tree he should plant in our garden. What do you think, Sure-lock?"
"A lemon tree, my dear Watt's son," I said.
Then Watt became COGNIZANT (fully informed and aware, conscious) of the situation. he COWERED (to quiver and shrink from fear) and said, "What is that?"
"It's a plant with little yellow fruit and . . ."
He interrupted me, "No, that body on the floor."
"Oh, golly, I forgot. We should get him to a hospital. But wait!" I COUNTERMANDED (canceled a command), "I need to stop for COMESTIBLES (food) on the way!"
We all lifted the body CONCURRENTLY (at the same time) and put it in my car.
When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor informed us that the CORPULENT man was dead.
"Golly, that's too bad," I said with CONTRITION (remorse, repentance, bitter regret felt owing to wrongdoing).
Well, it was time for me to get to the bottom of this heinous crime. CONVOKING (calling together, causing to assemble) the small crowd, I asked the dame, "Who was that man?"
"My husband," she replied, CRESTFALLEN (dejected).
"Were your CONJUGAL (pertaining to marriage) relations good?"
"Well, no, in fact we had been CELIBATE (without sexual activity) for a long time."
"Why?"
"Speaking with CANDOR (frankness), I chose to be CHASTE" (virtuous, free from indecency, not having enegaged in ILLICIT -- illegal-- sex).
"Is it CRASS (uncultured, crude) to ask why you chose to be CHASTE?"
"Because it starts with the letter C."
"Aha! Well, let's get to the CRUX (main point, central issue, heart of the matter) of the situation. Did you kill your husband?"
"How dare you CENSURE (criticize, blame) me like that. What a CALUMNIOUS (slanderous, defamatory) CONJECTURE (statement made without adequate evidence)!"
I repeated, "Did you kill him?"
"With CHAGRIN (embarrassment), she CAPITULATED (surrendered). "Well, only a little, but Watt will CORROBORATE (to testify in agreement, to support with testimony) that. He CAJOLED (coaxed) me into it."
"Watt! What brought you to it? CUPIDITY (greed, avarice)? All the time I thought you were on the side of the law and you were really COVERTLY (concealed, secret) planning this crime. My CREDULITY (gullibility)! You CHARLATAN (quack, someone who pretends he's someone he's not)! I will bring you both to justice without CLEMENCY (mildness of temper -- especially leniency toward an enemy or in sentencing a criminal), and I'm sure you will be CASTIGATED (punished)with a prison sentence and CORPORAL (of the body, bodily) punishment COMMENSURATE (equal, proportionate) with the seriousness of the crime."
Taken from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
DRUM ROLL! FANFARE!! KUDOS and PLAUDITS to these PERCIPIENT (very, very perceptive) PRODIGIES (people with exceptional talents or powers) for their PRETEST RESULTS:
"Hey, now…You’re an ALL-STAR!" You’ve earned APPROBATION (admiration) not OPPROBRIUM (disapproval)!
Highest Selection Index – Matt Grunewald
Highest CR Score – Mary Lindsey Simpkins
Highest Math Score – Matt Grunewald
Highest Writing Score – Marianne Spencer
Most Improved Selection Index – Ashley Hill
Most Improved CR Score – Kristen Boswell
Most Improved Math Score – Ashley Hill and Brad Griesenauer
Most Improved Writing – Ashley Hill and John Orcutt
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WEEKEND ASSIGNMENTS
1. WEBSITE & EMAIL: Check!
A. LATER is NOW! If you are DILATORY (tardy), click and fill-in “Notify Me” in box above right now!
B. Don’t forget about the digital flashcards for the 201 Words linked in the box above. Go forward to see word first, then definition. Go backward to test yourself!
C. Don’t miss your nightly VocabuTale below!
2. READING: “The Talent Myth” by Malcolm Gladwell
A. Read it yourself. Get an adult you like and respect to read it, too. Then engage in a SUBSTANTIVE (really “meaty”; of or relating to the essence or substance) conversation. Get a note to verify the conversation.
B. JOT DOWN:
1.) the BIG idea (main idea, THESIS);
2.) two pieces of SUBSTANTIVE evidence Gladwell introduces as support – to BUTTRESS (support) his CONTENTION (point to be argued), and
3.) your response – journal style.
3. MATH: Review formulas and do RADICAL practice. Here's a little help from your friends.
PERFECT CUBES: 1,-1; 8, -8; 27,-27; 64,-64; 125,-125
PERFECT FOURTHS: 1, 16, 81
PERFECT FIFTHS: 1, 32, 243
4. VOCABULARY: Start on new BLUE STUFF! (flashcards & packet). Please note – the blue flashcards appear in digital form (Powerpoint) with illustrations. To access and download, click the next-to-last link. If you don’t have Powerpoint, either use them online or email Ms. Shive, and she'll tell you how to download a free PPT reader. If you have not yet done your 201 WORDS CROSSWORD PACKET, begin with ALACRITY! With CELERITY!
5. Be thinking about your PARODY (due next Fri.)
6. PRACTICE TEST: Take a look at your scores and errors. Start thinking about goals and plans. We will go over the test next week.
7. REMINDER: SUCCULENT MORSELS and COPIOUS COMESTIBLES for Monday are to be provided courtesy the Reese's Ice-cream-eating Pirates Who Swim in Hawaii, a.k.a., Kim Pettit, Saysha Sebren, and Amber Twiner. Your PSAT Pedagogues will provide liquid refreshment(but not LIBATION -- a beverage, usually alcoholic) in case machines are still inaccessible.
Whew! On to the evening's VIGNETTE (a short scene or incident, as from a movie or literary work -- usually descriptive) brought to you by the letter "B." Then....Move over, Johnny Depp! Go for the BURIED TREASURE in EMAIL MYSTERIES. (Don't know what we're talking about? Better go back to square one and click "Notify Me."
**************Don't forget to print a copy for your notebook!
A BOLIVIAN BACCHANAL
...sounds like it involves a LIBATION (alcoholic beverage)!
With a BAWDY (obscene, coarse, lewdly humorous) exclamation, the burly buccaneers brutishly threw us out of the helicopter BEREFT (lacking something needed) of any parachute, and the BREVITY of our flight and BRUSQUENESS (brief, curt, gruff, discourteous) of our landing were not the BUCOLIC (pastoral, country) experiences described in our blonde travel agent’s BLAND (not stimulating, dull) brochure. We found ourselves in a jungle with all sorts of BANEFUL* (something which is really
poisonous or deadly) beasties crawling around our feet and BALEFUL (something that exerts an evil
influence or foreshadows evil) animal noises echoing around us.
“Yo,” said my BUMPTIOUS (self-assertive) companion with BRAGGADOCIO (cockiness) as he BURNISHED (polished) his achete. “What say we bash our way out of this place?” But before I could respond, we were captured by a BELLICOSE (violent, warlike) and BOISTEROUS (rowdy) tribe of natives about to performs its BELATED (delayed, late) BIENNIAL (every two years) human sacrifice to the fish goddess. We called a BARRISTER (lawyer), who offered BEATIFIC (displaying or imparting joy) BLANDISHMENTS (flattery). But in order to save our skins, we both had to be BETROTHED (engaged) to the chief’s daughter Brunnehilde.
“Yo,” said my companion. “This is a bit of a bummer. I should BERATE (scold severely) you for BOMBASTICALLY (grandiloquent [wordy, pompous] in speech or writing) BEGUILING (tricking) me into going on this BLIGHTED (ruined, destroyed, withered) vacation.” Then the axe fell and the BACCHANALIAN (orgiastic; like wild drunken revelry) rituals
honoring the BENEVOLENT (kind) fish goddess began.
* BALEFUL and BANEFUL are similar in meaning, but not entirely synonymous. To remember this,
think “baneful” rhymes with “painful” -- which deadly things tend to be!
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York, Workman,
1998.
And now, onward with ALACRITY and an INDOMITABLE WILL!
Farewell, ye hardies!
From Your Friendly PSAT Pedagogues
Dear PSAT Scholar (henceforward to be known as PERSPICACIOUS -- particularly perceptive-- PSATer),
Welcome to our VIRTUAL ABODE. Here you will find a PLETHORA (lots & lots & lots) of GERMANE (relevant) information --vocabulary in context, flashcards for drill (click "flashcards" in box above), and links, links, LINKS (at the top -- just scroll)to assist you in your VALIANT QUEST to achieve the ever-so-possible dream, a 200+ on your PSAT.
FIRST THINGS FIRST! Hit the NOTIFY ME function right now and enter your name and email address. You'll get a cybernotice reminding you to check it each time the site is updated.
Got a QUERY? Don't be QUERULOUS (it means quarrelsome...oops...did you think it meant questioning? Beware of PERNICIOUS pairs!) just INQUIRE! With a quick click on the site's email function, you've got PERPETUAL access to our assistance. We are, after all, willing THRALLS (slaves) -- VASSALS in the service of the EXPONENTIAL AUGMENTATION your PSAT score. With apologies to the Beatles, we KNOW you can "get by with a little SUCCOR from your INTIMATES." (Hit the refrigerator, you FAMISHED fools. We said SUCCOR, not SUPPER! You'll find only mental "munchies" here in cyberspace -- virtual VICTUALS ...PROVERBIAL "food for thought," ...COPIOUS COMESTIBLES of context and connotation which will provide AMPLE intellectual SUSTENANCE.)
###########
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. You'll find "201 WORDS YOU ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY HAVE TO KNOW" ready to go as flashcards. Start practicing THE GOLDEN DOZEN for nextime by clicking on "FLASHCARDS" above. TURN IN YOUR 201 CROSSWORD PACKET A.S.A.P.
2. Get your photo posting permission slip signed.
3. Do your handouts. (Will post specifics.)
4. Explore the links above at your leisure.
5. THEN when you are ready for bed, check out the following VOCABULARY TALE. We'll be providing you with nightly bedtime stories which you may copy and print out for contextual practice. Tonight's installment is . . .
***********************
THE AUDACIOUS AARDVARK (featuring PSAT words beginning with "A")
***********************
The AUDACIOUS (daring, bold) aardvark was rooting around in the grass for some lunch with which to ASSUAGE (relieve, lessen) his hunger when his ADROIT(dexterous, agile, nimble) friend Bob the baboon waddled up with ALACRITY (eager willingness, celerity) and ACCOSTED (approached) him. "Hey Man," Bob said, beginning an ALTERCATION (noisy or heated dispute). "Why do you ABASE (lower) yourself in that ATYPICAL (not standard,uncharacteristic) way? I ADVOCATE(support) the AGILE (nimble) use of a knife and fork."
"You are an ass," the aardvark replied politely. "It would be more AESTHETICALLY (appealing to the sense of beauty) pleasing if I were to eat that way, but the use of utensils would be too AFFECTED (put on, faked, a pretense) for a simple aardvark. In addition, I am AVERSE (opposed, disinclined) to such an idea because it might ALLEVIATE (relieve, lessen) my acne, which looks good on me."
"That has to be the APEX (height, zenith) of stupidity," Bob said, AGHAST (in horrified amazement). "And while we're on the subject of your appearance, I must ask you why you are so APATHETIC (disinterested, indifferent) about your hygiene. At least you could AMELIORATE (make better) your looks and odor by taking a bath."
"Never ALLUDE (refer) to my ALLEGED (asserted without evidence, presumed) AVERSION (feeling of strong dislike) to cleanliness again," the aardvark said with AUSTERITY (severity, sternness). "May I remind you that even with your nearly ANTHROPOID (manlike) form, you still pick lice out of strangers' hair."
Sensing that the conversation had gone AWRY (amiss, off the right course) and feeling ABASHED (disconcerted, self-conscious or ashamed), Bob's (daring, boldness) ABATED (subsided, lessened), and he to began to AMASS (collect, pile up) a pile of grubs from the grass.
The characters in this story are entirely fictitious. Any resemblance to real people,or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Berger, Larry et al. UP YOUR SCORE: THE UNDERGROUND GUIDE TO THE SAT, New York, Workman, 1998.
GOODNIGHT from your PSINCERELY PSERIOUS PSAT INSTRUCTORS (henceforward to be known as your PSAT PEDAGOGUES)
S'wonderful.......S'mah-ve-lous....to have be back in the saddle
again! Did you miss these MELLIFLUOUS MISSIVES while we were out
of town and out of touch? Our SOJOURN is over, and as the
POLTERGEISTS would say, "we're baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! We
understand that the counselors are working ASSIDUOUSLY on your
schedules. If you, however, find you have a problem with PSAT
class which cannot be worked out, please come by and make
arrangements to continue your PSAT practice.
Please check for links to grammar, math, vocabulary, and RC
exercises below; we must AMELIORATE skills DEFICITS with
ALACRITY.
Now on with our VENERABLE (honored) tradition of nightly
VocabuTales. Tonight's Tale features a duet of letters V and
W. So on to the VIGOROUS vocabulary workout!
#####################
AN *AVUNCULAR (relating to, like, or belonging to an uncle --
doncha' love this word? Doesn't it describe Dr. Hanberry
perfectly?) VENDETTA
*(Okay..okay...so we cheated a bit on the letters. Get a
SHYSTER and act on those LITIGIOUS impulses! TRANSLATION:
"Sue us!" But we DIGRESS (stray from the point, get off
the subject, TANGENT)
My uncle was VALOROUS (courageous, brave), yet he was
inclined to be quite VOLUBLE (fluent in speech) when faced
with danger. His VERBOSE (excessively wordy), VACUOUS
(empty) speeches terrified and bored his enemies. Certain
VINDICTIVE (vengeful) individuals have attempted to VILIFY
(slander, defame) his reputation by insisting that he was
a VULNREABLE (unprotected) wimp, but he has managed to
VINDICATE (clear of blame or suspicion) himself by VEHEMENTLY
(energetically, with ardor) VERIFYING (confirming) the
VERACITY (truth) of his claims of courage.
Anyway, one day while my uncle was VACILLATING (wavering
from one side to the other, oscillating) over a choice of
beverages, the VAINGLORIOUS (vain, boastful) Victor Ventura
burst in on him, extremely VEXED (irritated). He voiced his
message VOCIFEROUSLY (obnoxiously loudly): “I consider you
a vile swine, and in the future I will note hesitate to
spray you with VERMICIDE (anything used to kill worms –
again, a term and product useful if you have siblings).”
“Pray tell,” said my uncle VIVACIOUSLY (animatedly,
full of energy and life), “what is the cause of your
VEXATION?”
“I came here with a VORACIOUS (eager to consume mounds
of food) appetite,” replied Victor, “and on a WHIM (caprice,
idea of the moment) you WANTONLY (immorally, cruelly) denied
me any food, you wretched worm.”
“Wow,” said my WILY (crafty) uncle WISTFULLY (yearningly,
wishfully with a hint of sadness), “you may as well spare me
your WRATH (anger), because I don’t have anything yummy to
offer you!”
from Berger, Larry, et al. UP YOUR SCORE: THE UNDERGROUND
GUIDE TO THE SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Time flies, doesn't it? Our HIATUS (break, respite) will
be TRANSIENT (brief, short-lived) but not TRIFLING (trivial,
umnimportant). We return to school the second week of August
to apply PSAT strategies and tactics in speed drills with
TENACITY (firmness, persistence). Rouse yourself from your
TORPOR (lethargy, sluggishness, dormancy) And hit the number2.com
quizlab practices. Work on your PSAT packets; they offer a
PLETHORA of opportunities for practice!
In the meantime, consider this burning question -- Where can you find “talkative twerps wearing tutus”? CONGRESS, of course!
(Well, maybe not the part about the tutus, but “tutu’ is such
a good “T” word!) Take a turn through a typical legislative
session below in Voc. Tale T & U (Double duty because we took
last night off). But be careful. You know what
they say about the legislative process. It’s a bit like making
sausage. Even – make that ESPECIALLY – if you like the end
product, it’s best not to observe the process!
When you’ve finished the tale, TABLE (set aside) you vocabulary
efforts and turn your attention to a little legislative humor
in “Bush Lays Off Congress: Will Outsource Lawmaking to India”
@ http://www.davar.net/HUMOR/OUTCONGR.HTM
#########################
TUTU STORY
“Don’t be TACITURN (untalkative, uncommunicative)!” urged
the talkative twerp wearing a tutu. “Look at me – I have
great TACT (skill in dealing with people in difficult
situations), and no one could accuse me of TREPIDATION
(fear, state of anxiety that makes you tremble),” he
continued. “In fact, it’s often been said that my TEMERITY
(recklessness, lack of regard for danger, nerve) pays
TRIBUTE (gift expressing gratitude or respect) to my
TORRID (hot, burning, parched by the sun) soul.
His TEMPERATE (moderate, showing self-restraint)
companion held TENACIOUSLY (persistently) to her TENETS
(principles) and tried to tune out her TEMPESTUOUS (stormy,
TURBULENT) tutued friend’s TIRADE (harangue; long, loud,
angry complaint or “fit”) She muttered, “He must not be
TERRESTRIAL (of the earth) or TEMPORAL (relating to time).
The situation was entirely too TEDIOUS (boring,
tiresome, trivial), so I turned to someone else at my
table and asked, “Do you think Congress will TABLE (to remove
from consideration) the discussion about the Doc Martens?”
There was an almost TANGIBLE (PALPABLE, existing
materially, able to be touched) silence. Then a sandaled
young man put an ice cube in his TEPID (lukewarm) tea and
said, “That’s a touchy subject here. We’re all upset about
our senator’s UNSCRUPULOUS (unprincipled, lacking in
ethical values) TREACHERY (betrayal of trust, traitorousness)
in supporting the bill.”
“We’re going to THWART (challenge, to prevent from
taking place or succeeding) him,” said the TEMPERATE (moderate,
not too hot or too cold) companion TERSELY (concisely,
succinctly). “If that bill passes, I’ll TRUNCATE (shorten
by chopping off the end) his term with allegations of USURY
( loan sharking; lending money at outrageous interest rates)
and the UPSHOT (outcome, result) of this will be that I will
USURP (illegally seize the power or rights of another) his
power.”
Her words caught me unawares. The girl had seemed to
me to be polite and UNASSUMING (modest, not pretentious),
but instead she was an UNCOUTH (crude, unrefined, awkward)
and UNRULY (difficult to govern, impossible to discipline)
youth.
Craziness was UBIQUITOUS (everywhere, found throughout,
permeating)!
From Berger, Larry, et al. UP YOUR SCORE: THE UNDERGROUND
GUIDE TO THE SAT. New York: Workman, 1998,
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT Scholars,
Please find Voc. Tale S below. It’s a tale of shocking
courtroom shenanigans. When you finish, we’ve provided a
list of SHYSTER (sleazy lawyer) jokes to give you a little
lift.
A SHOCKING COURTROOM SAGA
My sweat glands were working overtime in the STAGNANT
(not moving or flowing, motionless and stale) air of the
courtroom as I STOLIDLY (showing little emotion or pain;
emotionally solid) continued my unscrupulous questioning
of the SINISTER (foreboding of evil) defendant on trial
for SEDITION (conduct or language inciting rebellion
against authority) -- related to the SURREPTITIOUS
(done clandestinely -- secretly -- or by stealth) taking
away of SUFFRAGE (franchise, right to vote). Although
he remained STEADFAST (unwavering) in proclaiming his
innocence, the jury was obviously SKEPTICAL (doubting,
disbelieving). When I SUPERSEDED (took the place of)
him on the courtroom floor, it was clear that the other
lawyer’s points were SOPORIFIC (sleep-inducing) compared
to my SUPERLATIVE (of the highest order, surpassing all
others) arguments. his SCANTY (insufficient, small)
arguments were SPARSELY (thinly spread or distributed)
filled with SYNTHETIC-sounding (fabricated, not real,
man-made) facts and his words STAGNATED as he spoke.
He was an obvious SYCOPHANT (servile person who follows
and flatters another person in the hope of winning favor),
but the judge just sat SOMBERLY (gloomily) in the shadows,
SERVILE (submissive, humbly yielding). I was confident.
All further speech was SUPERFLUOUS (extra, beyond what
is necessary). I know you’ll think me SHIFTLESS (lazy,
showing lack of motivation, incompetent) , but I though
I could afford to be SLOTHFUL (indolent) and not SUMMON
(call forth) any more witnesses. So, SUPERCILIOUSLY
(haughtily, conceitedly, disdainfully) I said, “The
State rests, your Honor,” I ran out to lunch, and the
jury was SEQUESTERED (isolated, set apart, separated).
Two hours later the jury was SUMMONED, and I waited
drooling SALACIOUSLY (lecherously, erotically stimulating),
expecting the SUCCULENT (juicy, tasty) word “guilty.”
So I was surprised when I heard the word “not” as well.
“I’ve been SUBVERTED (undermined or overthrown) and SWINDLED
(cheated, defrauded)!” I yelled. Then the bailiff hit me
over the head, and I SUBMISSIVELY (yielding to the
authority of another) accepted a SEDATIVE (something --
usually a drug-- that calms or tranquilizes).
Now I cultivate SANGUINE (reddish, bloody-colored --
BUT DON’T FORGET ALTERNATIVE MEANINGS like “robust” or
“of cheerful or hopeful disposition”!) cattle and lead
a much quieter, STATIC (having no motion or change at all)
life.
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The
Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Riddles (with apologies to parents in the legal profession)
What do you call a lawyer with an I. Q. of 50?
Your honor.
What do you call a lawyer whose gone bad?
Senator.
What is the difference between a lawyer and a trampoline?
You take off your shoes to jump on a trampoline!
In front of you stand four men: Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein and a lawyer. You are holding a gun which contains only three bullets. Who do you shoot?
Use all three bullets on the lawyer.
How can you tell when a lawyer is lying?
His lips are moving.
What is the difference between a dead dog in the road and a dead lawyer in the road?
There are skid marks in front of the dog.
What is the difference between a lawyer and a vulture?
The lawyer gets frequent flyer miles. orVultures can't take their wing tips off.
Why do behavioral scientists prefer lawyers to rats for their experiments?
1) there are more of the lawyers to work with,
2) lawyers are more expendable,
3) lawyers do more harm to society than rats,
4) lab assistants are less likely to develop a bond or feel sympathy for them,
5) rats arouse more feelings of compassion and humanity,
6) they multiply faster,
7) rats have an inate right to life and liberty,
8) animal rights groups will not object to their torture,
9) rats have more dignity, and
10) there are some things even a rat won't do.
What is the only disadvantage to using lawyers instead of rats in laboratory experiments?
It's harder to extrapolate the test results to human beings.
Why won't sharks attack lawyers?
Professional courtesy.
What do have when a lawyer is buried up to his neck in sand?
Not enough sand.
When lawyers die, why are they buried in a hole 24 feet deep?
Because deep down, they are all nice guys!
What do you get when you cross the Godfather with a lawyer?
An offer you can't understand.
Sorry it took so long to get you your progress
reports. Just as we finished Saturday, the school's
email program went down -- maintenance, we guess.
Anyway, your parents should have received 2 reports
+ an EPISTLE. If you've lost your instructions for
quizlab.com, fear not! They are printed on the 1st
report in GREEN!
Also, you should have received a MISSIVE directing
you to ask your parents about your scores. Attached
to it was a personalized review of words you've missed
while doing the vocabulary workout at number2.com.
Please feel free to respond in PSAT-speak. You need
to master connotation as well as denotation.
Now on to matters of great PITH and MOMENT!
AHHHHH!!! The lsat IDYLLIC days of summer......
Time for ROMANCE! Are you a real romantic? To test
yourself for romantic quality, try "What's Your Dating
Style?" quiz @
http://teenadvice.about.com/library/teenquiz/3/blquiz01.htm
Then ask yourself, how articulate am I? We've combined
the AMOROUS and the ARTICULATE in the following bedtime
VocabuTale for the Letter "R."
A ROMANCE
He was RECUMBENT (lying down) on his bed, RUMINATING
(thinking about a lot, cogitating) on his RENASCENT
(coming into being again) affair with the countess.
She had left him and then REDRESSED (remedied, set right,
compensated) their relationship by returning, and they
had reached a RAPPROCHEMENT (reconciliation) Now that she
was RECIPROCATING (returning mutually) his love, he was
once again the happiest man in the REALM (kingdom). Or
was he?
There was a rap on the door and the air was suddenly
REDOLENT (fragrant) of her perfume. "Darling," she said,
opening the door, her face REFULGENT (shining, radiant)
with rapture. he frowned as she kissed him, and she
laughed. "Really. Don't be such a RECALCITRANT (stubborn)
child. You're being altogether too RETICENT (silent,
restrained in behavior)." She kissed him again.
He remained REFRACTORY (disobedient, stubborn)
and refused to smile. She came over and reclined
next to him. "I'm sorry I left you. I had to. I needed
room . . . " She began RECAPITULATING (repeating or
stating again in a form that is more laconic and much
briefer than the manner in which it was initially stated)
the RELEVANT (having significant importance) parts of
the RECONDITE (abstruse, profound) explanation she had
given when she left. he did not respond.
Suddenly there was an explosion on the street below.
Riotous sounds reverberated through the air. The countess
strode swiftly to the window.
"It's the Roman army. They've been threatening to
RAZE (demolish, tear down) the city and now they're on
a RAMPAGE (course of wild behavior). A group of soldiers
began to batter the front door. "Our only recourse is to
run to the roof as rapidly as we can," she RATIOCINATED
(thought logically and methodically). She climbed to the
roof and crept over to the neighboring building. He
hesitated at the gap between the buildings, momentarily
paralyzed by the REDOUBTABLE (formidable, frighteningly
awe-inspiring) distance to the ground. Then he leapt
across, and they raced over the roofs, with the RAPACIOUS
(plundering, ravenous, greedy) soldiers running RAMPANT (
unrestrained) through the streets below, RAVAGING (plundering)
the city. "REMORSELESS (having no regret or feeling of guilt)
rogues," she muttered. "They'll change their tune later
when they have to RECTIFY (correct, set right) all the
damage they're doing."
"Undoubtedly they've RATIONALIZED (justified) their
behavior by saying it was the only route left open for
them, he replied."
They rested a moment, trying to recover from the
exertion. Their faces were RUDDY (having a healthy,
reddish color).
"You're wonderfully quick," he remarked.
"I can't REFUTE (disprove) that. I'm also RAVENOUS
(extremely hungry). We'll have to risk a reappearance."
The outskirts of town were quiet. They slipped into
a restaurant. They were led to a table and gratefully
sat down. "Now listen here," he scolded, sipping his
red wine. "I want some assurance that you won't run
off again and leave me rueing the day I met you."
"Whatever are you RANTING (raving, speaking wildly)
about?" she retorted.
He REITERATED (repeated) his request, becoming RILED
(upset).
She laughed. "Darling, you're being ridiculous as
well as REDUNDANT (repetitive). It's such a bore, really.
Relax. I'm here now, and so is our REPAST (meal) at last."
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The
Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Friday (7/22/05) The ACERBIC End of MCHS PSAT WORKSHOP
2005
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT Scholar,
KUDOS! PLAUDITS! ACCOLADES for a excellent
improvement on the posttest. You averaged a 15 point
gain on your Selection Indexes! It seems that the
intensive focus on math was indeed SALUTARY. It
AMELIORATED some skills DEFICITS which were IMPEDING
your test performance and were DETRIMENTAL to your
score. Progress reports which will include the
details are forthcoming.
Here's the funny thing, though. Last year we
had a number of kids who either waited or came back
because they just HAD to find out if they had done
better, and if they'd done better, by how much so
that they could plan their "attack" on skills. Not
a one of you stuck around to find out if you had improved.
WHADAYAMAKATHAT?
At any rate, we are pleased with the general results.
Yet we realize that there is still a long way to go!
So take it easy tonight, but hit the grind again
tomorrow.
In the meantime...let's turn our attention to an
ill-fated CONVOCATION and a few quick vocabulary
QUIPS in Voc. Tale Q.
########################
A QUICK MEETING OF MINDS
“QUORUM (minimum number of people that have
to be at a meeting in order for the meeting to be
official), QUORUM, we must have a QUORUM!” shouted
the leader.
“Why?” asked an idiot. QUALITATIVELY (having
to do with quality) speaking, it’s quicker to QUANTIFY
(express as a number or amount) the quarks in a quarter.”
“Ahh, we are indeed in a QUAGMIRE (swamp,
difficult situation that’s hard to get out of). We
need a QUANTITATIVE (capable of being expressed as,
or having to do with, a number or quantity) estimate
of how many quacks are here.”
“Yes, it is a bit of a QUANDARY (state of
uncertainty, dilemma),” spoke another idiot. “I know,
why don’t we vote on whether or not to begin the meeting?”
“I have QUALMS (doubts, uneasiness, sudden pangs
of sickness or faintness) about doing that,” said the
first idiot.
“Quiet, you idiots, or you’ll be QUARANTINED
(isolated because of disease)!” quoth the leader.
They QUAILED (drew back in fear) before his wrath,
and both felt a bit QUEASY (nauseated, uneasy). “Now
then,” said the leader, “don’t be QUERULOUS (complaining,
peevish). I have a plan. You may think me somewhat
QUIXOTIC (having the same foolish, impractical, romantic
idealism as Don Quixote), but I truly believe that if
we burst forth with enough clever QUIPS (snappy
responses), we might be recognized as not being quite
so stupid as we really are. And with that thought in
mind, I’d like to close this meeting of the village idiots.”
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The
Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Brought to you QUIXOTICALLY by the DIDACTIC DUO + ONE
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT Scholar,
Before you PERUSE (examine, look over) “Petulant
Peanuts,” Installment “P” in our continuing Vocabulary
Tales, in order to replace the PAUCITY (dearth, lack of,
scarcity) of your vocabulary with a PLETHORA (super-
abundance, excess) of PITHY (concise and meaningful)
terms, perhaps you should take time to do a bit of
PERSISTENT practice at NUMBER2.COM...at least, we hope
you'll be PERSISTENT in your PURSUIT of PSAT PUISSANCE
(power)!
And now for the story of less-than-PERSPICACIOUS
(discerning, perceptive) Phil and Peanuts. You may have
seen an equally PEDESTRIAN(mundane, commonplace) pair
of PARAGONS (exemplars) of PALTRY (insignificant, small)
intellect, whose professional experience parallels that of
Phil and Peanuts, in films like "Dude, Where’s My Car?"
or "Dumb and Dumber."
###################
PETULANT PEANUTS
Philip DePance and his coworker, Peanuts Burnes,
were on a lunch break from the PHILANTHROPIC (improvement
of the world thorough charity; love of humanity in
general) firm of “PAUCITY (scarcity, dearth, smallness
in number) to PLETHORA (superabundance, excess)” when
Phil suddenly asked, “Peanuts, what are we going to do?”
“I guess you should start by changing your name.
Have you noticed that it sounds pitiful whether you say
Philip DePance, Phil DePAnce of P.DePance?” she replied.
“No, it’s just a PEDESTRIAN (commonplace, ordinary)
name! But what I meant was what are we going to do about
the company’s PECUNIARY (relating to money) state? We
are on a PRECIPICE (cliff, steep overhand) as it is, and
if the PORCINE (related to pigs) PEDANT (boring person
who knows a lot but has little practical experience) of
a boss continues his practices, we’ll be living in PENURY
(poverty, destitution) for sure!”
“Well, maybe we could frame him for PILLAGING (robbing
violently) the company’s bank account! Rumors are already
PERMEATING (spreading or flowing throughout) the office
that he has a PENCHANT (strong liking or inclination) for
PLUNDERING (robbing, pillaging).”
“Hmm . . . I’m a little PENSIVE (engaged in deep,
often sad, thought), But I suppose it is the most POLITIC
(shrewd, clever), PRAGMATIC (practical), and PERSPICACIOUS
(perceptive, understanding) plan we could think of,” said
Phil. “I’m PARCHED (made very dry --or thirsty-- by heating).
Let’s start this meal!”
They ordered fruit after the waiter told them that the
banana trees were PROLIFIC (fertile, producing lots of
offspring, results, or work) at this time of year, and
they were brought spotted bananas that seemed PALATABLE
(acceptable to the taste, sufficiently good to be edible.
Think: plate-able!) enough.
But soon Phil turned PALLID (extremely pale). “My
PROBOSCIS (nose) is detecting something PUTRID (decomposed,
foul-smelling),” he said.
“Eww!” Peanuts added. “And it’s not PALLIATING
(abating, moderating the severity of)! It’s the bananas!
I knew those spots PRESAGED (gave an indication or warning
of something that will happen in the future) something.”
“Waiter,” Phil called, “We are PETULANT (unreasonably
irritable or ill-tempered) already because of PECUNIARY
problems and, to make a long story PITHY (concise and
meaningful), are too PUSILLANIMOUS (timid, cowardly,
wimpy) to PULVERIZE (grind to bits) these bananas
properly. You seem PUISSANT (powerful, mighty) enough;
do the job before the odor PROLIFERATES (increases or
spreads rapidly)!”
“I don’t smell anything,” the waiter replied.
“Oh, don’t PREVARICATE (lie). We will not be PLACATED
(appeased, pacified, calmed) until we have PALPABLE
(tangible, capable of being touched of felt) proof that
the PREVALENT (commonly occurring or existing) filth is gone!”
said Peanuts in the fashion of a true PEDAGOGUE (school
teacher or educator; boring, dry teacher).
PLAINTIVELY ( sad, melancholy), full of PATHOS (quality
in something that makes you pity it), the waiter smashed the
bananas and took them away. “Even POSTHUMOUSLY (continuing
or done after one’s death), my PRECURSOR (predecessor,
what came before) still PERFUNCTORILY (done routinely,
carelessly, listlessly) makes me look like the PARAGON
(model or example of perfection) of poor service! These
bananas were planted by him!” he muttered as he walked off.
“Well, I feel better, Peanuts. We could work here!”
Phil said, once again PLACID (calm, composed, undisturbed).
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The
Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Brought to you with PRECISION in DICTION
by the DIDACTIC DUO + ONE
1. Work at number2.com.
2. Finish any math you haven't done for turn-in.
3. SKIT-diddle.
4. Read your 20.
5. Do your flashcards.
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT Scholar,
As you will soon see, not all love stories have a
happy ending. Even though our PROTAGONIST in Voc.
Tale O is OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH so serious, his romantic
OVERTURES are OBLITERATED by the OBDURATE objections
of his only one’s OMNIPOTENT father, a POTENTATE of some
power!
A FAIRY TALE
I went to the king, seeking to marry his daughter,
but he was OBDURATE (hardened against good influence)
in his refusal. I was OBSEQUIOUS (fawning, too easily
compliant), but he was an ODIOUS (offensive, hateful)
and OBSTREPEROUS (unruly, defiant, boisterous) man who
kicked me out of the OPULENT (rich) palace because I
was not pleasing to his OLFACTORY (pertaining to the
sense of smell) sense. I went away, determined to
OBTRUDE (force oneself or one’s ideas on others) my
marital aspirations on him by raising an army and
assaulting his OMNIPOTENT (all-powerful) forces.
However, my own forces were blown to OBLIVION (state
of being totally forgotten).
I then went to see OMNISCIENT (all-knowing) Olga,
an old one-eyed witch who dealt in the OCCULT
(pertaining to supernatural phenomena) and OSCILLATED
(swung back and forth) between sanity and insanity.
When I arrived at the ORIFICE (small hole, opening,
or vent) that led to her cave, she OGLED (stared at)
me with her one eye as though I was OBTUSE (stupid,
or thick-headed) to visit her. She advised me to go
and be of service to the king, to offer to carry out
every ONEROUS (burdensome) task, OSTENSIBLY (apparently,
seemingly) out of the kindness of my heart, but really
to penetrate the castle and elope with the princess.
I made my way to the OSTENTATIOUS (showy, pretentious)
royal city. As I OVERTLY (openly and observably, not
hidden) approached the gate, however, an OFFICIOUS
(obnoxious and pushy in giving opinions) guard informed
me that I had been OSTRACIZED (banished, excluded) from
the kingdom. heartbroken, I left and went to seek my
fortune selling doorknobs to nomads.
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The
Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Brought to you OSTENSIBLY for your EDIFICATION, but
also for your AURAL, if not olifactory enjoyment
TO DO:
1.) Work at number2.com. -- FOCUS ON YOUR MATH
WEAKNESS!
2.) SKIT-diddle!
3.) Plug-in OBLIVIOUS (Clueless) vocabulary
4.) Read a min. of 20 min.
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT Scholars:
Although you were NAIEVE (unsophisticated, innocent) NOVICES
(beginners) and NEOPHYTES (novices, new converts) , your NASCENT
(INCIPIENT, beginning to exist or develop) vocabulary skills
are growing and maturing. We hope you are no longer NONPLUSSED
(bewildered, perplexed, put at a loss for what to say or do) by
the NOISOME (offensive, disgusting as a bad smell, harmful or
injurious) test and its NOXIOUS (injurious, harmflul) pitfalls
("suker bait"). Understanding the NUANCES (slight shading of
meaning) of test construction (POWER TEST -- easy, medium,
and hard) and knowing the necessary tips will help you
NEGOTIATE (navigate) the NOTORIOUS (infamous) obstacle
NONCHALANTLY (casually, indifferently). If you apply your
INDOMITABLE (that which cannot be dominated or conquered)
will to practice your skills, virtually all attempts by ETS
to NULLIFY (make void) your build-up points through the
nauseatingly misnamed guessing penalty, will be NUGATORY
(insignificant, trifling)! Through dogged practice you
will become the APOTHEOSIS (highest form of) of excellence,
a PARAGON (exemplar, perfect example) – NONPAREIL (having
no equal, incomparable)!
Now for your nightly VocabulTale.....Tonight's
feature is the letter "N"!
###################
A VILLAIN’S DEATH
The NEFARIOUS (evil) villain had reached the NADIR
(absolutely lowest point) of his NOTORIOUS (famous for
something bad, INFAMOUS) career. He had run into his
NEMESIS (vengeful enemy), Nice Ned, the sheriff, after
stealing some counterfeit cash -- he often didn’t notice
the NUANCES (subtle variation in color, meaning, or some
other quality) of forged bills. Now he lay dying from
two fatal earlobe wounds near a NOISOME (offensive,
disgusting, filthy, malodorous) junkyard in the desert.
Looking back, he recalled his NASCENT (emerging,
coming into being) life as an outlaw. He had started
as a NAIVE (lacking in worldly wisdom or experience)
NOVICE (beginner) in New York, but when the NOXIOUS
(harmful to health or morals) city fumes got to him,
he headed west, where a NOVEL (new, unusual, different)
future awaited him. In later years, no longer a NEOPHYTE
(beginner), his NONCHALANT (appearing casual, cool
indifferent, “chilled out”) attitude had left him
NONPLUSSED (perplexed, baffled) . Now nearly dead,
he wanted to establish a NEXUS (bond or link between
things) with his lost youth, but it was too late.
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The
Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Hoping you are not NONPLUSSED (or NONPLUSED is an acceptable
spelling, as well) by these NOVEL “N” words,
THE DIDACTIC DUO + ONE
TO DO LIST:
1. Do your math!
2. Practice Sentence Completions!
3. Work at number2.com.
4. Work vocab.
5. Prepare your "snaps."
6. Find a favorite blonde joke.
7. Get your costume together for LEGALLY BLOND DAY
tomorrow.
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSATer,
Does PSAT practice (esp. @ number2.com) make you
MOROSE (bad-tempered, gloomy, withdrawn) sulky?
MORIBUND (nearly lifeless, outmoded, in a dying state)?
SNAP OUT OF IT! Half the world lives on less than
$2.00 a day! So what's the MORAL (lesson) for your
PSAT MORALE (attitude)? Not MOOT (without significance,
purely academic), we hope!
Now it's time for a bit of history with a big
vocabulary M-pact! hmmmmmmMMMMMMMMM!!! For the BULK
of history, men believed that MALARIA was caused by MIASMAS.
We know that it is not the much-MALIGNED bad air which
carries the MINUSCULE and MALEVOLENT disease germ, but
the pesky MOSQUITO.
In reality, every 40 seconds somebody dies of MALARIA!
When you MEDITATE upon the fact that all this MORBIDITY
and MORTALITY is absolutely preventable through nighlty
use of mosquito netting....When you further MULL over
the fact that if we'd spend just 50 cents out of every
hundred dollars we have (instead of just 15 cents as we
do now), we could buy netting for everybody who needs
it, thus, MITIGATING and AMELIORATING this silent tsunami
of sickness....one cannot help but be moved to MUNIFICENCE!
No snide or MORDANT remarks about MAUDLIN and MAWKISH
sentimentality, please! A MODICUM of respect and a
serious MIEN....So many problems are not AMENABLE to
simple solution. Let's commit to give the MEAGER gift
required as a "thank you" for the MAMMOTH MAGNITUDE of
our own MYRIAD blessings!
Now MEANDER through your nightly Voc. Tale . Tonight’s
tale features the letter “M.” Hope you enjoy “Mark’s
Problems,” below!
#################
MARK’S PROBLEMS
In a small MARITIME (near the sea, concerned with
shipping or navigation), no make that “Madison County,”
village, there lived a MOROSE (sullen, depressed) musician
named Mark. Most of the citizens were MAGNANIMOUS
(noble, generous, forgiving, magnificently kind) to him
because he was a METICULOUSLY (extremely careful and
precise) clean MENDICANT (beggar), but there was a
MINUSCULE-brained (very tiny) MALEVOLENT (wishing evil
upon others, malicious, the opposite of benevolent)
gang in town who MALICIOUSLY (with evil intent) MALIGNED
(slandered, said bad thing about) him. “Hey, Mark,”
they would yell. “You’re more MALODOROUS (stinky)
than a moo-cow.” Yeah, ‘Mark’ is a MISNOMER
(inappropriate or wrong name): you should be called
Moo-k!”
Mark bore the MENDACIOUS (lying) gang no MALICE
(spite, the desire to do evil to others), though he
wished he could, through some ingenious MANEUVER
(skillful or clever move), MEANDER (wander around
aimlessly) through the town’s MYRIAD (many, lots,
a very large amount) streets without these MONOTONOUS
(boring, repetitious) MORDANT (bitingly sarcastic or
nasty) MALEDICTIONS (spoken curses). He grew
MELANCHOLY (sad, depressed, PENSIVE) and suffered
from a great MALAISE (feeling of illness or
depression) as he MOROSELY contemplated their
MALIGNANCY(malevolent and malicious acts). He could
be found sitting, listening to the MELLIFLUOUS
(sweet sounding, flowing with honey or sweetness)
sounds of jazz and classical trumpet, with a virtual
MIASMA (poisonous atmosphere or cloud) over him,
snuffling quietly. There, that story wasn’t so
MACABRE (gross, ghastly, suggestive of horrible
death and decay), was it?
adapted from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score:
The Underground Guide to the Sat. New York:
Workman, 1998.
A brief HARANGUE (tirade)...
ARE YOU GUYS CHECKING YOUR EMAIL? The PAUCITY
(few in number) of responses is DISCONCERTING
(disturbing, confusing, frustrating, embarrassing)
and DEMORALIZING (discouraging). JUST DO IT!
One thing PSAT Workshops lack is LONGEVITY
long life). They seem LILLIPUTIAN (minute, extremely
small) in comparison with regular school, don’t they?
We LAMENT (mourn, grieve) their EPHEMERAL (quickly
passing, transient) nature, and we LOATHE (detest)
losing you. As somebody named Will once noted,
Parting is INDEED “such sweet sorrow”! Let us
CAPITALIZE on (take advantage of, make the most of)
the brief time together which remains.
We can hardly wait to see your smiling faces and
observe your SCINTILLATING (brilliantly sparkling)
intellects in action. We’re love your parodies and are
eagerly anticipating your skits – your opportunity to
showcase your VOLUMINOUS (very large) vocabularies and
SCINTILLATING wit in VIGNETTES (anecdotes, brief
stories)! Remember, we plan to preserve your
performance in the FORMER (first mentioned or listed)
for POSTERITY (future generations) by means of videotape!
And now for tonight’s bedtime VocabuTale here’s....
############################
An Open and Frank Note from the Authors
With such words in this list as LEWD (indecent,
obscene) , LICENTIOUS (immoral, morally wild or
sexually unrestrained), and LECHEROUS (lewd, lustful)
in the L’s, you’re probably looking forward to a
great story. Well, you won’t find one here, but not
because we were too LACKADAISICAL (uncaring, lacking
in interest or spirit) or LANGUID ((lacking energy,
weak). We actually did write a pretty LASCIVIOUS
(lusty, lewd) one, but instead of LAUDING (praising)
it, the editor LOATHED (hated) it. After she read it,
she LITHELY (gracefully, supplely, limberly) LAMBASTED
(thrashed, mauled, beat, whipped, or bludgeoned
with big things and other than fun stuff; to scold
sharply or rebuke) us with LETHAL (deadly) cans of
lima beans ( We suspect they were obtained through
LARCENY), lacerating our ligaments. This made us
a bit LUGUBRIOUS (mournful or sad), but we were
willing to LUCUBRATE (study hard and in a scholarly
fashion) some more and come up with a new story.
But when she LACONICALLY (briefly, tersely, concisely,
succinctly) called us ‘LIMACINE (pertaining to or
resembling a slug -- This word won’t be on the test,
but you may find it useful, particularly if you have
younger siblings) idiots,” we left, suddenly overcome
by our LATENT (potential but not yet displayed)
LETHARGY (sluggishness, indifference), LANGUOR
(sluggishness, lack of energy), and LASSITUDE
(listlessness, state of exhaustion or weakness).
And so, in protest, we didn’t do an L story.
Humblest apologies. We hope you will forgive us.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score:
The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York:
Workman, 1998.
Lexicographical ignorance LAMBASTED by
the DIDADIC DUO + ONE
Sorry for last night's brief INTERLUDE without a
Vocabutale. We had INTERMITTENT technical difficulties
which led to an IMPASSE. We were unable to upload and
post. We were tempted to utter a few IMPRECATIONS when
the system proved so INTRACTABLE, but that would have
been utterly INDECORUS. We hope you did not INFER that
we were INDOLENT! But we DIGRESS...
(1.) KUDOS & ACCOLADES to the SHERLOCKS who've solved
every EMAIL ENIGMA. The rest of you keep those
Vocabulary Mysteries rollin’ in. We won’t send you the
LATTER ones until you complete the FORMER!
(2.)Read your 20 min. minimum per day. (See handouts:
story of an equation & "In Praise of Nepotism."
(3.)Hit the online practice at number2.com with CELERITY
(speed)! We detect a LAMENTABLE (to be mourned) lack
of INDOMITABLE (that which cannot be conquered or
dominated) will here!
Progress reports will be posted soon!
(4.) Work vocabulary:
A. Finish up BLUE PACKETS.
B. Work on GREEN PEOPLE PACKET.
C. Teach Dave Barry SOME BIG WORDS!
D. Do your BLUE Sentence Completions.
Don't forget to card & cull!
I'm afraid your RACONTEURS (story-tellers)are a bit
LACONIC (of few words) tonight. After, all it is
the weekend! Tonight's tale is the tale of the JADED
JINGOIST. It's CONCISE, SUCCINCT, yes, even TERSE
(brief and to the point, PITHY even abrupt to the
point of rudeness), but not PROSAIC or PEDESTRIAN
(mundane, ordinary) in the least!
For the CLASSIC poop (or EXCREMENT for those of you
with SCATALOGICAL fixations) on the ULTIMATE JADED
JINGOIST, go to Blockbuster and rent Citizen Kane,
Orson Well's masterpiece based on the life of William
Randolph Hearst, America's most famous jingoist.
Well-educated people "in the know" experience no
PERPLEXITY (confusion, bemusement) when other equally
well-versed individuals ALLUDE (refer)to "ROSEBUD."
If you don't "get it," read this first for your
vocabulary's sake, then rush right out to get IT
(Citizen Kane) for cultural literacy's sake! If
you'd like to read more about this LANDMARK (milestone)
film, this cinematic WATERSHED (milestone), go to http://www.filmsite.org/citi.html. If you find
yourself in an IMPECUNIOUS (without money) state and
you'd like to borrow a copy of the video, come by
Room A-186 (Shivers). If you want to debate its merits,
contact Drew Wilkerson!
##################### (Don't forget to download a
copy for your notebook!)
CRIME DOESN'T PAY
The JINGOIST (extreme patriot) became JADED
(wearied, especially by too much of the good life).
He didn't feel as JOCOSE (merry, joking), JOCULAR
(jolly, joking), or JOCUND (merry, jolly) as he once did.
Eventually, he turned to KNAVERY (dishonest, mischievous
dealing) , robbing from KIOSKS (pavilion or small open
booth where items are bought or sold). It was KISMET
(fate)that he got caught. It takes a little KEN (range
of knowledge) to be a KLEPTOMANIAC (compulsive thief)
-- a lesson for us all!
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The
Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
FELICITATIONS, PERSPICACIOUS PSAT Scholars,
Let this message be absolutely PERSPICUOUS! If you wish
to avoid an IMPASSE on your PSAT, you must be an INDOMITABLE
student with an INSATIABLE intellectual appetite and an IMPECCABLE vocabulary! You also need to be INDEFATIGABLE in your
efforts at mastering group dynamics. (Remember......due date
for skit scripts written by EMINENT students = IMMINENT! Here’s
hoping that the light of verbal excellence will EMINATE from
your script!) By the way, the parodies we've read so far are
absolutely INCOMPARABLE!
JOCULAR INTERLUDE: Didja' hear the one about the geography
teacher who wet the bed? He suffered from INCONTINENCE! He
must have uttered an IMPRECATION or two! More JOCOSE moment
coming tomorrow night with the letter "J"! But first, heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeers's "I."
##################
SIX IRASCIBLE FOOLS
Mandy, Allison, Yutong, Davis, BrettandJosh,
and Trey were traveling INCOGNITO (in disguise) in
the INCOMMODIOUS lacking space, not commodious) bus. They
had reached an IMPASSE (dead end) in their INDOMITABLE
unconquerable, impossible to dominate) attempts to think
of sentences for the PSAT "I's" and were nearly INSENSATE
(unconscious, lacking sensation) with INDOLENCE (laziness).
"Hey, Trey, do you have any INGENIOUS (original,
resourceful) ideas for 'INSCRUTABLE (enigmatic, difficult
to understand),' you INEPT (incompetent) fool?" Brett and
Josh inquired.
Trey's face remained IMPASSIVE (without emotion, expressionless). "You know you're just INCITING (arousing,
instigating) me to anger with your INSIPID (lacking excitement,
VAPID) INVECTIVE (abusive put-down). If you continue this
IMPROPRIETY (improper, without displaying propriety) , this
INVIDIOUS (offensive, making people angry) behavior, I'll
become IRASCIBLE (easily provoked, irritable)."
"Are we to infer that you are questioning BrettandJosh's
IMPECCABLE (flawless and faultless) integrity by implying
that he/she acted in an IGNOBLE (not noble) manner?" Yutong
interjected INGENUOUSLY (innocently, showing childlike
simplicity) "I'm sure he/she couldn't stand the IGNOMINY
(dishonor, disgrace)."
"If you all don't shut up, I'll be forced to IMPALE
(to pierce with a sharp stake or point) you. Especially
since you IMBIBED (drank in, absorbed) my iodine,"
Davis shouted.
"There seems to be an INSIDIOUS (working or
spreading stealthily, sneaking inside to do something bad --
NOT to be confused with "INVIDIOUS") force at work
among us," Mandy added. "Our INCONTROVERTIBLY (indisputably)
INSATIABLE (impossible to satisfy) desire to help our
fellow PSAT scholars is failing!"
"But what, ho!" Allison exclaimed. "I believe our
destination is IMMINENT (about to occur, impending)."
So the bus stopped, and they got off, continuing
to argue INCESSANTLY (nonstop, ceaselessly).
adapted from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score:
The Undergrounnd Guide to the Sat. New York:
Workman, 1998.
INCESSANTLY yours,
THE DIDACTIC DUO + ONE, otherwise known as your
PERSPICACIOUS PSAT PEDAGOGUES … and, when particularly
IRASCIBLE, the TERMAGANT TRIO!
URGENT MESSAGE to those who left early today: We assigned
ROLES for DRESS-UP/ACT-UP DAY for PEOPLE YOU MEET ON THE PSAT.
Trey Nordan, Adam Panetta, and Andrew Comans, please check
your email for your identities for the morrow. Don't tell
anybody. Just play the part!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT-ers,
After you've read about the ill-fated HOMILY
(sermonlike speech) of the HIRSUIT (hairy) priest below
(tonight's VocabuTale, prepared to play the role of a
particular PERSON YOU MEET ON THE PSAT, and exercised
RHETORICAL excellence in your PSAT PARODY, head to
number2.com with CELERITY and expend a little elbow
LUBRICANT (grease)!
Remember that merely desiring (even EARNESTLY) a spiking
score will not SUFFICE (be sufficient or enough). To
achieve a point PRECIPICE (high point, brink), you must
exert the INDOMITABLE (that which cannot be controlled
or dominated) will and personal discipline required to
do your DISCOMMODING (causing inconvenience, disturbing)
and DISCOMFITING (disconcerting, confusing) DAILY DRILL!
By the way, ACCOLADES to those of you have accepted our
math challenge! That's where most of you stand to pick
up points!
Check your email. We'll be sending you and your parents
photo links with snaps from today. In addition, Ms. S.
will be sending you a BESTIARY of Adjectives along with
snaps of tables of PORCINE PSATers for the day.
This HYPOTHETICAL (not actual, but supposed) tale is
brought to you through the HERCULEAN (requiring great
strength) efforts of yours truly,
the TEST-SKILLS TRIUMVIRATE
#############
THE HOMILY
The HIRSUTE (hairy) young priest was preparing
his HOMILY (sermonlike speech), and he needed advice
from the HOARY (gray or white from age, old) HAGGARD
(wasted, worn) pastor.
"I gotta give a good talk so I can move up in
the church HIERARCHY (social structure, social pecking
order)," he explained. "Can you help me?"
"You speak on HALLOWED (holy, sacred) ground,"
the pastor began," so don't HARANGUE (mean, nasty, angry
speech or tirade) and be not HAUGHTY (proud, vain,
arrogant). Don't forget to condemn HEINOUS (grossly
wicked, vile, odious) HEDONISM (philosophy of trying
to be happy all the time; a funky state of being in
which you do your own thing and don't worry about
morality), though. A good public response to your sermon
will be a HARBINGER
(forerunner, something that signals the approach of
something, omen) of your advancement." The priest worked
all night, searching for HACKNEYED (overused, trite)
expressions and hip HOMONYMS (word that sounds like
another word but has a different meaning). But when
dawn came, he just said, "Oh, the heck with it."
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score:
The Underground Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
1. FINISH MATH -- test & worksheet. (Am I BLUE???????????????)
STUDY FORMULAS! Practice with YELLOW FLASHCARDS!
2. Teach Dave Barry some BIG words!
3. Work on your PARODY (due Fri.) and your PACKETS:
A. Blue Vocabulary (201 Words & *MVP: Mighty Prefix,
Roots & Branches, & Synonym Clusters)*If you have time,
download the
Powerpoint vocabulary flashcards from Ms. Shivers's website
linked above.
B. CROSSWORDS (White from May; green from workshop!)
4. Read your 20 good minutes!
5. Drill and cull with your vocabulary flashcards. MAKE YOURSELF GO
THOUGH THE ELECTRONIC ONES AT THIS SITE BEFORE YOU LOG OFF!
5. COMMIT YOURSELF! LOG ON TO NUMBER2.COM AND PUT IN A MINIMUM OF
30 MINUTES DAILY!
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT-ers:
Now it’s time to move from “F” to “G” in our Vocabulary Tales.
Let’s do it with a FRACTURED FAIRY TALE (A PARODY, of course).
You've enjoyed "THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF" for years. Try out this
more OBSCURE (lesser-known) and ERUDITE (scholarly) version!
#################
LESSER-KNOWN ADVENTURE OF THE
THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF
The three Billy Goats GRUFF (rough or stern in
aspect or speech) met in the GLOAMING (twilight) near the
bridge. “I’m really scared of that GRUESOME (grisly,
gory) troll, “ Billy Goat #1 said, GESTICULATING (gesturing,
signaling with hands and arms) toward the bridge.
Despite her GOSSAMER (light, delicate,insubstantial) gown,
she doesn’t seem too GREGARIOUS (friendly, outgoing, sociable).”
“I won’t GAINSAY (deny, dispute, say something against
what someone else says) that, and I heard her GOURMET (one who
appreciates fine food and drink, EPICURE, CONNOISSEUR) appetite
includes a GRISLY (gory) taste for goat’s hooves!” BG #2 added
nervously. “I really don’t like GRATUITOUS (unnecessary or
unwarranted) violence.”
Cowards!” BG #3 GIBED (heckled or mocked, taunted,
picked on). “I don’t listen to nonGERMANE (relevant,
appropriate) GARBLED (confused, mixed up) GIBBERISH
(rapid, incomprehensible, or \nonsensical speaking;
DRIVEL) that only GULLIBLE (believing anything) fools
like you would believe. I bet that troll is
really a cool gal. Watch me cross that bridge!”
“You have a GRANDIOSE (excessively impressive
or grand)opinion of yourself, but you’re really pretty
dumb. So long, bud,”
Goat #1 replied with a GRIMACE (twisted facial expression),
anticipating the GRAPHIC (vivid, explicit) goat-mutilation
horror that soon followed.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground
Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
To all our wonderful word CONNOISSEURS,
From your favorite RACONTEURS (story-tellers),
the TEACHING TRIUMVIRATE
TO DO LIST:
1. Finish blue math sheet & go back over rest of PRETEST MATH 11 - end of section.
2. Finish teaching Dave Barry some BIG words.
3. Work in your VOCABULARY PACKETS: 2 blues & a green & a PLETHORA of crosswords.
4. Spend time with flashcards -- the electronic ones here & at Ms. S's website &
the one's you've made for yourself.
5. Work on PARODIES & SKITS.
Dear PSAT Scholars, otherwise known as PERSPICACIOUS PSAT-ers::
Greetings and FELICITATIONS! Tonight, so you can feast your eyes on a
PLETHORA of PSAT terms beginning with the letter "F." Installment F in
our Vocabulary Tales is a very FISHY tale indeed. (Smells kinda' PISCINE
-- fishlike. It is designed to FORTIFY your PSAT vocabulary. (We're
not being FACETIOUS here!) If you can't read it with FACILITY and w/o
FALTERING, fill the FISSURES in your knowledge by FAMILIARIZING yourself
with the parenthetical information provided.
################
FRED THE FILCHER
Freddy has a FLAGRANT (deliberately conspicuous, glaring)
FOIBLE (weakness, flaw). He FILCHED (stole) fish, sometimes with
FERVOR (passion) and sometimes with FORBEARANCE (patience), but
he never FLUCTUATED (made irregular variation) from his FORTE
(strong point -- pronounced FOR-tay). One day his mother,
returning from the garden -- which was FECUND (fertile) with
fish remains -- said FACETIOUSLY (joking or jesting) ,
"Freddy, is it FEASIBLE (workable, plausible, possible)
that you'll FOMENT (stir up, agitate, incite) a FETID (smelly)
FULMINATION (explosion, roar, loud denouncement) of fish odor
if you continue to FRENETICALLY (frenzied, frantic) FLAUNT
(show off) your FILCHING habits?"
FROWARD (stubborn, obdurate) Freddy frowned. "That
is a FATUOUS (inane, foolish) as well as FALLACIOUS (false,
incorrect) suggestion." Then he uttered the following
FASTIDIOUSLY (careful about details, impossible to satisfy)
crafted rationalization. "This FACET (side, aspect, or
face of something) of my abilities is not FUTILE (completely
ineffective) , as it provides fish for our otherwise FRUGAL
(sparing in expense, stingy, miserly) dinner. You should FAWN
(grovel, be overly admiring)over me, not FULMINATE against me."
The preceding story is FICTITIOUS (false, not genuine),
FABRICATED (invented or made up often in order to deceive) by
the authors.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide
to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
1. COMING TOMORROW: THAT '70's DAY!
A. Get your costume together for DRESS-UP day. Click the bottom
linklisted above to go to Mrs. Shivers's CLUBPHOTO website. Click on
THAT '70's DAY Album at the bottom if you want to see pics from last
year's workshop.
B. Read your 20 minute -- "Stayin' Alive"
2. BLUE SHEET: Math (factoring) due tomorrow
3. YELLOW SHEET: Writing (error ID) due tomorrow
4. VOCABULARY: PINK, PURPLE, & BLUE
A. PINK: Finish "OBLIVIOUS" (Clueless) Sheet
B. PURPLE & WHITE: Teach Dave Barry Some BIG WORDS!
C. BLUE:
1.) Work in your BLUE WORKSHOP VOCABULARY PACKET. We've
uploaded an illustrated Powerpoing covering the SYNONYM CLUSTERS
and posted it at Mrs. Shivers's website. Just follow the next
to last link above, scroll to the bottom of Mrs.S's homepage,
and click on the PSAT POWERPOINT page. The click the link to
SYNONYM CLUSTERS.
2.) Finish & turn in 201 Words Crossword Packet.
Don't forget to click the flashcard function in the box at the top of the page and drill a bit before you go.
5. FINISH analyzing your test scores, setting your goal, and designing your plan for achieving that goal.
6. GROUP #3: THE BOMBASTIC BOORS are in charge of tomorrow's SUCCULENT (juicy) MORSELS (tidbits) for tomorrow's snak time!
All glory, LAUD (praise), and VENERATION (honor) to the vocabulary AFICIONADOS (devotees, fans) who are sleuthing their way to excellence with our emailed vocabulary mysteries. KUDOS (honors praise) to those of you with VORACIOUS (insatiable) appetites for for vocabulary! We invite the rest of you to SAVOR (taste with pleasure or zest) delectable MORSEL (bits) of “food for thought,” as well.
Now for a bedtime story from your favorite RACONTEUR (excellent story teller).........
Today we explore VOCABULARY through VEGETABLES. (That means we'll use FLORA as opposed to FAUNA). PERUSE installment E in our Vocabulary Tales -- that's "E" for "EDIFICATION"!
##################
ESSAY ON EGGPLANT
I want to know which ERUDITE (scholarly) vegetable maker invented eggplant. If he is dead, I will EXHUME (disinter, to remove from a grave) his coffin and EFFACE (erase, rub out) the EPITAPH (memorial text carved on a tombstone) from his tombstone. If he is alive, I will burn him in EFFIGY (dummy or mannequin, usually for symbolic torturing--you know......like the Brits do to Guy Fawkes every year!) and ensure he will not be EULOGIZED (speech of praise at one's funeral) when he dies. Eggplant is the EPITOME (something that perfectly represents an entire class of things; embodiment -- pronounced eh-PIT-oh-me) of bad vegetables and its destruction is EXIGENT (urgent, requiring immediate attention) . I ESCHEW (avoid, shun) eating it. Its badness is almost ETHEREAL (not of the material world) . I would rather become EMACIATED (excessively thin, weak) than eat eggplant. This is an EXACTING (demanding) demand, but would someone please EDIFY (enlighten, educate) me, without being ESOTERIC (known only by a few people) or EQUIVOCAL (ambiguous, capable of two interpretations) , as to one good thing about eggplant? It's mushy, it has seeds, it makes my tongue itch, it has a dopey name, and it tastes like the droppings that an EQUESTRIAN (pertaining to horsemen or horsemanship)slob forgot to clean up. I wish all the soil on the world's eggplant farms would ERODE (to diminish or destroy by small amounts) . Just thinking about eggplant makes me EFFETE (tired, barren, decadent), Oh and get this -- when eggplants fertilize each other, the round ones with lots of seeds are the female ones and the long, narrow ones are the males. And they do it EBULLIENTLY (bubbly, overflowing with excitement) in public, in front of all the other vegetables. What would happen if humans EMULATED (to imitate closely) this behavior?
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
TO DO LIST: If you have not yet done so, click the "NOTIFY ME" function in the box at the top of this page!
1. BEWARE! GEOMETRY BALL COMING...better PERUSE those formulas!
2. 3 P's for you: Work on PRETEST (analysis), PACKETS (vocabulary), and PARODIES (composition)!
3. Check your email! Thanks to all who’ve responded to the email address check. (What’s the matter with the rest of you DILATORY (tardy) RESPONDENTS?
SPECIAL “Snaps” to Allison Burge, Robyn Gilstrap, Mandy Hackman, Amanda Hendricks, Ben Sloan, Rob Taggart, Emily Cotten, Shireen Dogar, and Kelley Voelkel. They are VERITABLE (real, genuine, actual) super SLEUTHS (detectives), true SURE-LOCK HOMES clones! KUDOS & PLAUDITS to you all, but YO, ALLISON BURGE: You are not only the Queenofpink88, you are the QUEEN OF PSAT EMAIL MYSTERIES! If you don't know what we're talking about, email Ms. S. POSTHASTE (without delay) and do a little SLEUTHING for yourself!
4. We'll be CROSS if you don't do your CROSSWORDS and FLASH some CARDS!
5. A reminder to Group #8 (whose team name I forgot to write down! -- ABJECT-servile -- APOLOGIES): Don't forget you are the SUMPTUOUS snack providers for Monday. We await a CORNUCOPIA of COMESTIBLES!
Now for your Nighty-night VocabuTale...........It centers on words beginning with the letter "D," and it is posted with a DISCLAIMER (a repudiation or denial of responsibility or connection): This story is FICTITIOUS. None of the characters are based on reality, certainly not upon our two wonderful DANS -- Hall & McDonald, whom we would never DEROGATE or DISPARAGE (esepcially the big one who might DEFENESTRATE us)! If you didn't understand a word we just said, fear not! Read on and all will be ELUCIDATED!
####################
THE DISTRAUGHT DOGCATCHER
Dan was DISTRAUGHT (anxious, worried, distressed). He knew he'd soon have to go up to the DAIS (raised platform) and declare his candidacy for dogcatcher. He knew he was DEVOID (completely lacking, void, empty, without)of charisma and not a DYNAMIC (energetic, vigorous, forceful) speaker. He wasn't even DEXTEROUS (adroit or skillful in the use of hands or body) at catching canines. Doubtless, he would DEBASE (to lower in quality or value, adulterate) himself by speaking like a DERANGED (having a severe mental disorder, being insane) fool.
Trying to appear DAUNTLESS (bold), he shambled forward with a DEARTH (scarcity, paucity) of enthusiasm. He tried to picture his audience all in DIAPHANOUS (translucent, gossamer) gowns, but it did not help his mood at all.
"Ahem," he began, but was DETERRED (prevented or discouraged from happening) from continuing when he DESCRIED (discerned, caught sight of something which is difficult to catch sight of -- NOT to be confused with DECRIED: condemned openly) the DIABOLICAL (fiendish, devilish, nastily scheming) Great Dane that was rapidly DEPLETING (lessening the supply or content of) his audience by devouring them. Feeling this DEVASTATION (ruin by violent action) might DEROGATE (detract, take away from) his speech, Dan's thoughts were thrown into sudden DISCORD (lack of harmony), and he felt a DRASTIC (severe) need to DEFENESTRATE (the act of throwing something out of the window -- It's HIGHLY unlikely you'll see this on the PSAT. However, you may wish to DEFENESTRATE your PSAT PEDAGOGUES!) himself. Using himself as a DECOY (lure or bait) to get the beast's attention, he DEMURRED (objected mildly), "ummmmmm. . . please stop!" People DISCERNED (detected by use of the senses) his foolishness.
Later that day, a supporter DISPARAGED (belittled, reduced in esteem) Dan's speech. "It was rather DESULTORY (aimless, rambling, haphazard, disconnected). DIVERS (several) DIVERSE (distinct, varied, differing) rumors have been DISSEMINATED (dispensed or distributed) that he is DEPRAVED (morally corrupt, debased, perverted). We'll have trouble DELUDING (deceiving) the public into believing the contrary."
As ever, DEPLETING the dictionary in the service of EXPONENTIALLY expanding your vocabulary,
Yours truly, THE DIDACTIC DUO + ONE
URGENT: I need email addresses for these students -- Taylor Clark, Joe Davis, Paul Katool, Daniel McDonald, Kirstyn Rasmussen, and Luke Schwalm.
PREFACE or PROLOGUE (introduction): We suggest you PRINT A HARD COPY of each nightly VocabuTale to file in your test skills notebook. This will FACILITATE (to make easy or less difficult) vocabulary study. Also, don't forget to click the NOTIFY ME function at this site if you have not done so already!
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT-er,
If you wish to be counted among the PSAT COGNOCENTI (persons who have or claim to have special knowledge and appreciation of a particular field; CONNOISSEURS), you must expand those sorely CIRCUMSCRIBED (limited, narrow) LEXICONS (dictionary, particular vocabulary).
SO after a brief reminder to be ASSIDUOUS (industrious, devotedly persevering) in your efforts at analyzing and correcting your PRETEST ERRORS,we’re on to tonight’s VocabuTale with CELERITY (swiftness, speed)! Dust off your SLEUTHING (detective) skills and dive in!
OOPS....that reminds us. Only 21 of you have emailed Mrs. Shivers, which means that only 21 of you have received any of the 10 PSAT EMAIL MYSTERIES which you must solve in your QUEST (search) for PSAT glory! You can't finish what you don't begin. PUH-LEEZE email Ms. S. -- sshivers@madison.k12.ms.us
“C”-incerely,
Your PSAT PEDAGOGUES
Tonight’s letter is “C.”
#################
A MYSTERY
It was one of those steamy nights when the sky is lousy with stars. I was enjoying a CATHARTIC (cleansing, allowing a release of tension or emotion) CEREBRATION (thought) and CULLING (selecting, weeding out) the blue M & M’s CACHE in the office of the Sure-Lock Homes Locksmith and Detective Agency. Suddenly, my COGITATIONS (ruminations, deep and careful thinking) were interrupted by a CACOPHONOUS (sounding discordant, terrible and generally unpleasant to listen to, opposite of “euphonious”) sound and a cataclysmic vibration that reverberated through my CAPACIOUS (spacious) office. I stepped with CIRCUMSPECTION (prudence, caution) into the hall because I was afraid someone might be up to some CHICANERY (trickery). I found a CHAOTIC (utter confusion) scene: a CORPULENT (obese, fat bodied) man lying CONTORTED (twisted, bent) at the bottom of the stairs. Blood was gushing though a wound in his side, and I could see the CILIATED (having tiny hairs) lining of his small intestine. I decided to take charge.
I said with COMPUNCTION (strong uneasiness caused by guilt; remorse, contrition), “Golly, are you okay?”
He replied CAUSTICALLY ((burning, characterized by a bitter wit) , “Sure, I’m just swell. And how was your day?”
“Peachy,” I said.
At that he bellowed CHOLERICALLY (hot-temperedly). “You CALLOUS (unfeeling, unsympathetic) piece of CARRION (rotting flesh)! Can’t you see I’ve been shot? Did you think this hole in my chest was a CONGENITAL (existing at birth) condition? Get me to a hospital with CELERITY (swiftness, speed)!”
“You don’t have to be so CAPTIOUS (fault-finding), CANTANKEROUS (ill-natured, quarrelsome), and CHURLISH (boorish, rude). Let me COGITATE (think deeply and carefully, ruminate)!”
“If I don’t have this wound CAUTERIZED (to burn tissue), I’ll be a CADAVER (corpse).”
At that moment a comely broad walked into the office. She COMPORTED (behaved in a particular way) herself calmly. She was voluptuous and yet seemed CHASTE (pure, unspoiled, virginal). I was overcome with CONCUPISCENT (relating to sexual desire, lustful) thoughts that should be CENSORED (removed due to inappropriate nature). She pointed at the wounded man and said, “We were in my apartment; he got up to answer the door, and suddenly I heard a CACOPHONOUS sound and a cataclysmic vibration that must have reverberated in your CAPACIOUS office.
Just then my assistant, Watt, entered. he said, handing me the phone, “My kid wants to know what sort of tree he should plant in our garden. What do you think, Sure-lock?”
“A lemon tree, my dear Watt’s son,” I said.
Then Watt became COGNIZANT (fully informed and aware, conscious) of the situation. he COWERED (to quiver and shrink from fear) and said, “What is that?”
“It’s a plant with little yellow fruit and . . .”
He interrupted me, “No, that body on the floor.”
“Oh, golly, I forgot. We should get him to a hospital. But wait!” I COUNTERMANDED (canceled a command), “I need to stop for COMESTIBLES (food) on the way!”
We all lifted the body CONCURRENTLY (at the same time) and put it in my car.
When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor informed us that the CORPULENTman was dead.
“Golly, that’s too bad,” I said with CONTRITION (remorse, repentance, bitter regret felt owing to wrongdoing).
Well, it was time for me to get to the bottom of this heinous crime. CONVOKING (calling together, causing to assemble) the small crowd, I asked the dame, “Who was that man?”
“My husband,” she replied, CRESTFALLEN (dejected).
“Were your CONJUGAL (pertaining to marriage) relations good?”
“Well, no, in fact we had been CELIBATE (without sexual activity) for a long time.”
“Why?”
“Speaking with CANDOR (frankness), I chose to be CHASTE" (virtuous, free from indecency, not having enegaged in ILLICIT -- illegal-- sex).
“Is it CRASS (uncultured, crude) to ask why you chose to be CHASTE?”
“Because it starts with the letter C.”
“Aha! Well, let’s get to the CRUX (main point, central issue, heart of the matter) of the situation. Did you kill your husband?”
“How dare you CENSURE (criticize, blame) me like that. What a CALUMNIOUS (slanderous, defamatory) CONJECTURE (statement made without adequate evidence)!”
I repeated, “Did you kill him?”
“With CHAGRIN (embarrassment), she CAPITULATED (surrendered). “Well, only a little, but Watt will CORROBORATE (to testify in agreement, to support with testimony) that. He CAJOLED (coaxed) me into it.”
“Watt! What brought you to it? CUPIDITY (greed, avarice)? All the time I thought you were on the side of the law and you were really COVERTLY (concealed, secret) planning this crime. My CREDULITY (gullibility)! You CHARLATAN (quack, someone who pretends he’s someone he’s not)! I will bring you both to justice without CLEMENCY (mildness of temper -- especially leniency toward an enemy or in sentencing a criminal), and I’m sure you will be CASTIGATED (punished)with a prison sentence and CORPORAL (of the body, bodily) punishment COMMENSURATE (equal, proportionate) with the seriousness of the crime.”
Taken from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
EPILOGUE: Just a reminder ............
...to read your BLUE BIBLE (201 Words… and MVP Vocab. Packet) daily and to finish crosswords and exercises.
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT-er:
We are EXHILARATED! EXUBERANT! EBULLIENT! ELATED (filled with
enthusiasm) to have you all MATRICULATING (enrolling for purposes of study) in our annual MCHS PSAT Workshop. Our CHALICES (cups) are INNUNDATED (flooded, overflowing). We WAX (grow) EFFUSIVE (without reserve, showing overflowing kindness or cordiality)! But then it’s exceedingly difficult to ESCHEW (avoid) EFFUSION with an ACUTE, ASTUTE (sharp,shrewd) bunch of PERSPICACIOUS (very perceptive) PSAT-ers like
YOU! -- In other words, it’s been FUN! Weren't those ERROR IDs & SC relays EXHILARATING (energizing) rather than ENERVATING (energy draining)?
We are DISCONSOLATE and DEJECTED (really depressed) without those of you who have conflicts and are missing workshop days, but our spirits are BUOYED up by the fact that you are already working ASSIDUOUSLY
(diligently, with perseverance) and with ALACRITY (cheerful
readiness and promptitude). Our EPISTOLARY (letter writing) efforts are NOT in vain! You’re reading this MISSIVE (letter), aren’t you? Even though we are not in physical PROXIMITY (nearness, we'll have PSAT PROPINQUITY (closeness, nearness, PROXIMITY) via email & this website.
WEEKEND "TO DO" LIST:
1. Check website (read EPISTLES & VOCABUTALES, practice w/ flashcards, & explore links) and BE SURE to click the "NOTIFY ME" function if you've not yet done so.
KUDOS & PLAUDITS (congrats, acclaim) to these PERSPICACIOUS PSATers who did so with ALACRITY (celerity with a great attitude........Doncha' remember.....CELERITY is quickness......Oh,if you haven't emailed Ms. S. we guess you don't know that one, do you? See # 2): Kimberly Shoff, Allison Pace, Emily Cotten, Emily Richards, Yutong Liu, Myles Cryer, Robyn Gilstrap, Allison Burge, Shireen Dogar, Mandy Hackman, Trey Brown, Rob Taggart, Kelley Voelkel, Brett Barnes, Rachel Ciarletta, Michelle Aregood.........Whazzamatta widda resta chu toikies? CLICK IT ALREADY!
2. EMAIL Ms. S. if you haven't already! sshivers@madison.k12.ms.us
3. Go over your errors on the PRETEST. See if you can figure out why you missed what you missed. (Correcting the items = great, but you'll never see those questions again. You've got to address root causes!)
4. Review your FORMULAS so you won't be MORTIFIED (chagrined, ashamed) when we toss you the fabled GEOMETRY BALL.......Coming Monday to a PSAT Workshop near you!
5. Finish up the crosswords for 201 Words You Absolutely Positively Have to Know and get them in to Ms. Shivers A.S.A.P. KUDOS & PLAUDITS to Robyn Glistrap, Kimberly Shoff, & Amanda Hendricks who've turned theirs in completed.
6. Work along in your blue vocabulary packet.
7. Read the professional & student PARODIES provided you and begin to think about what you will BURLESQUE for class. DIGITAL & HARD COPIES are due no later than Fri., July 15.
8. ALWAYS CARD WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW. Then drill & cull! Keep your PSAT PARAPHERNALIA convenient so you can drill during "dead" time (commercials, potty, etc.)
....And be sure to get plenty of rest so that you'll be REINVIGORATED for Monday.
WHEW! Finally...we close with a BOLIVIAN BACCHANAL, your Friday bedtime VocabuTale!
Sincerely,
Your PSAT PEDAGOGUES (Note: that's PEDAGOGUES, not DEMAGOGUES!)
####################
A BOLIVIAN BACCHANAL
With a BAWDY (obscene, coarse, lewdly humorous) exclamation, the burly buccaneers brutishly threw us out of the helicopter BEREFT (lacking something needed) of any parachute, and the BREVITY of our flight and BRUSQUENESS (brief, curt, gruff, discourteous) of our landing were not the BUCOLIC (pastoral, country) experiences described in our blonde travel agent’s BLAND (not stimulating, dull) brochure. We found ourselves in a jungle with all sorts of BANEFUL* (something which is really poisonous or deadly) beasties crawling around our feet and BALEFUL (something that exerts an evil influence or foreshadows evil) animal noises echoing around us.
“Yo,” said my BUMPTIOUS (self-assertive) companion with BRAGGADOCIO (cockiness) as he BURNISHED (polished) his machete. “What say we bash our way out of this place?” But before I could respond, we were captured by a BELLICOSE (violent, warlike) and BOISTEROUS (rowdy) tribe of natives about to performs its BELATED (delayed, late) BIENNIAL (every two years) human sacrifice to the fish goddess. We called a BARRISTER (lawyer), who offered BEATIFIC (displaying or imparting joy) BLANDISHMENTS (flattery). But in order to save our skins, we both had to be BETROTHED (engaged) to the chief’s daughter Brunnehilde.
“Yo,” said my companion. “This is a bit of a bummer. I should BERATE (scold severely) you for BOMBASTICALLY (grandiloquent [wordy, pompous] in speech or writing) BEGUILING (tricking) me into going on this BLIGHTED (ruined, destroyed, withered) vacation.” Then the axe fell and the BACCHANALIAN (orgiastic; like wild drunken revelry) rituals
honoring the BENEVOLENT (kind) fish goddess began.
* BALEFUL and BANEFUL are similar in meaning, but not entirely synonymous. To remember this,
think “baneful” rhymes with “painful” -- which deadly things tend to be!
AND…remember that BIENNIAL means ONCE every TWO years while BIANNUAL means TWICE in a SINGLE year!
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York, Workman,
1998.
LATER THURS.(9:17 p.m.)...7/7/05...The county's site's back up & email's running, but you've got to make 1st contact! (If you use this site's email function, be sure to tell me WHO you are & what your address is!)
THURSDAY (7/7/05) EMAIL ALERT: Madison Co. Website is down; therefore, we cannot return emails. Send them to Ms. Shivers, anyway. The site will come back up soon. They're just doing some maintenance.
...a note from your PERSPICACIOUS PSAT PEDAGOGUES...
Dear PSAT Scholar,
Welcome to our VIRTUAL ABODE. Here you will find a PLETHORA of GERMANE information(vocabulary in context, flashcards for drill -- click "flashcards" in box above], and links, links, LINKS to assist you in your VALIANT QUEST to achieve the ever-so-possible dream, a 206+ on your PSAT.
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Got a QUERY? With a quick click on the site's email function, you've got PERPETUAL access to our assistance. We are, after all, willing THRALLS -- VASSALS in the service of the EXPONENTIAL AUGMENTATION your PSAT vocabulary score. With apologies to the Beatles, we KNOW you can
"get by with a little SUCCOR from your INTIMATES." (Hit the refrigerator, you FAMISHED fools. We said SUCCOR, not SUPPER! You'll find only mental "munchies" here in cyberspace -- virtual VICTUALS ...PROVERBIAL "food for thought," ...COPIOUS COMESTIBLES of context and connotation which will provide AMPLE intellectual SUSTENANCE.)
You'll find "201 WORDS YOU ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY HAVE TO KNOW" and the MVP (other blue packet) WORDS ready to go as flashcards. Practice them for next time by clicking on "FLASHCARDS" above. Explore these links at your leisure.
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TO DO LIST:
1. Click the notify me function at this site!
2. EMAIL Ms. Shivers: sshivers@madison.k12.ms.us.
3. DO YOUR MATH SHEET! REMEMBER: We're behind the Baltics and Bulgaria!
4. Work in your Vocabulary Packet.
5. If you owe $$$, please bring it A.S.A.P.
6. THEN when you are ready for bed, check out the following VOCABULARY TALE. We'll be providing you with nightly bedtime stories which you may copy and print out for contextual practice. Tonight's installment is . . .
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THE AUDACIOUS AARDVARK
The AUDACIOUS (daring, bold) aardvark was rooting around in the grass for some lunch with which to ASSUAGE (relieve, lessen) his hunger when his ADROIT(dexterous, agile, nimble) friend Bob the baboon waddled up with ALACRITY (eager willingness, celerity) and ACCOSTED (approached)
him. "Hey Man," Bob said, beginning an ALTERCATION (noisy or heated dispute). "Why do you ABASE (lower) yourself in that ATYPICAL (not standard, uncharacteristic) way? I ADVOCATE (support) the AGILE (nimble) use of a knife and fork."
"You are an a--," the aardvark replied politely. "It would be more AESTHETICALLY (appealing to the sense of beauty) pleasing if I were to eat that way, but the use of utensils would be too AFFECTED (put on, faked, a pretense) for a simple aardvark. In addition, I am AVERSE (opposed, disinclined) to such an idea because it might ALLEVIATE (relieve, lessen) my acne, which looks good on me."
"That has to be the APEX (height, zenith) of stupidity," Bob said, AGHAST (in horrified amazement). "And while we're on the subject of your appearance, I must ask you why you are so APATHETIC (disinterested, indifferent) about your hygiene. At least you could AMELIORATE (make
better) your looks and odor by taking a bath."
"Never ALLUDE (refer) to my ALLEGED (asserted without evidence, presumed) AVERSION (feeling of strong dislike) to cleanliness again," the aardvark said with AUSTERITY (severity, sternness). "May I remind you that even with your nearly ANTHROPOID (manlike) form, you still pick lice out of
strangers' hair."
Sensing that the conversation had gone AWRY (amiss, off the right course) and feeling ABASHED (disconcerted, self-conscious or ashamed), Bob's (daring, boldness) ABATED (subsided, lessened), and he to began to AMASS (collect, pile up) a pile of grubs from the grass.
The characters in this story are entirely fictitious. Any resemblance to real people, or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Berger, Larry et al. UP YOUR SCORE: THE UNDERGROUND GUIDE TO THE SAT, New York, Workman, 1998.
GOODNIGHT from your PSINCERELY PSERIOUS PSAT PEDAGOGUES
MONDAY (7/12/04)
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSATers,
After the brief weekend HIATUS (break) we are refreshed and --as the idiom states -- raring to go! Accordingly we'll get right to our VocabuTale FINALE (final act), featuring the letters x, y, AND z!
Sweet NOCTURAL (relating to night) visions!
Your PSAT PEDAGOGUES
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X,Y,Y CHITTY-CHITTY, BUT NO BANG-BANG!
Contrary to CONVENTIONAL (accepted, orthodox) wisdom among DOMESTIC (homegrown) high school students, the X,Y,Z Affair was NOT an alphabetical FIASCO (catastrophe) but rather a diplomatic DEBACLE (catastrophe) which involved a long and boring French DIATRIBE (tirade; speech railing and complaining against something) HARANGUING (railing and “trading” against) us Yanks, in the hopes of convincing us to yank another knot in their arch NEMESIS (agent of retribution or punishment) – the Brits!
But being RECALCITRANT (stubborn and unwilling to cooperate) by nature, we ESCHEWED (avoided) the opportunity to take another swipe at our ERSTWHILE (former) foes. The French, viewing this as quite the FAUX PAS (social gaffe or error), assembled a MELANGE (mixture) of SHYSTERS (sleazy lawyers) and swindlers and proceeded to squeeze us Yanks for a bit of filthy LUCRE (money) on a SPURIOUS (false claim) charge of breach of contract.
This GAUCHE (boorish) and INEPT (clumsy, lacking in skill) attempt to BILK (cheat, swindle) the good ole USA fed American XENOPHOBIA (abnormal fear of strangers or anything foreign – Let’s face it. What’s stranger than an exasperated and peevish Frenchman?) and led some CHAUVINISTIC (overzealous, unreasoning patriotism) American ZEALOTS (fanatics) to clamor for war with France. Indeed, some in government were tempted to YIELD (give in, give way) to their Francophobia. Others felt that war was the very ZENITH (high point, apogee, apex) of international irresponsibility, and argued for clodding the YOKELS (unsophisticated bumpkins) who YEARNED (longed) for war with ZEST (relish, keen anticipation or enjoyment) instead!
But before INDIGNANT Americans could decide what to do, the FICKLE (changing one’s mind easily) French adopted a CONCILIATORY (designed to smooth over differences) POSTURE (attitude or position) and officially REPUDIATED (denounced and disclaimed) the so-called X,Y,Z, agents, denouncing them as CHARLATANS (tricksters, frauds). And so in the end, there was a lot of chitty-chitty-chat, but no bang-bang at all!
S'wonderful.......S'mah-ve-lous....to have you back in the saddle again!
Please check email for links to S-V agreement practice. We must AMELIORATE skills DEFICITS with ALACRITY. Also, you'll find a MELLIFLUOUS MISSIVE featuring the SCINTILLATING wit of Drew Smith...(be still, my heart!)
Now on with our VENERABLE (honored) tradition of nightly VocabuTales. Tonight's Tale features a duet of letters V and W. So on to the VIGOROUS vocabulary workout!
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AN *AVUNCULAR (relating to, like, or belonging to an uncle) VENDETTA
*(Okay..okay...so we cheated a bit on the letters. Get a SHYSTER and act on those LITIGIOUS impulses! TRANSLATION: "Sue us!" But we DIGRESS (stray from the point, get off the subject, TANGENT)
My uncle was VALOROUS (courageous, brave), yet he was inclined to be quite VOLUBLE (fluent in speech) when faced with danger. His VERBOSE (excessively wordy), VACUOUS (empty) speeches terrified and bored his enemies. Certain VINDICTIVE (vengeful) individuals have attempted to VILIFY (slander, defame) his reputation by insisting that he was a VULNREABLE (unprotected) wimp, but he has managed to VINDICATE (clear of blame or suspicion) himself by VEHEMENTLY (energetically, with ardor) VERIFYING (confirming) the VERACITY (truth) of his claims of courage.
Anyway, one day while my uncle was VACILLATING (wavering from one side to the other, oscillating) over a choice of beverages, the VAINGLORIOUS (vain, boastful) Victor Ventura burst in on him, extremely VEXED (irritated). He voiced his message VOCIFEROUSLY (obnoxiously loudly): “I consider you a vile swine, and in the future I will note hesitate to spray you with VERMICIDE (anything used to kill worms – again, a term and product useful if you have siblings).”
“Pray tell,” said my uncle VIVACIOUSLY (animatedly, full of energy and life), “what is the cause of your VEXATION?”
“I came here with a VORACIOUS (eager to consume mounds of food) appetite,” replied Victor, “and on a WHIM (caprice, idea of the moment) you WANTONLY (immorally, cruelly) denied me any food, you wretched worm.”
“Wow,” said my WILY (crafty) uncle WISTFULLY (yearningly, wishfully with a hint of sadness), “you may as well spare me your WRATH (anger), because I don’t have anything yummy to offer you!”
from Berger, Larry, et al. UP YOUR SCORE: THE UNDERGROUND GUIDE TO THE SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Time flies, doesn't it? Our HIATUS (break, respite) has be TRANSIENT (brief, short-lived) but not TRIFLING (trivial, umnimportant). We return tomorrow to attack PSAT strategies and tactics with TENACITY (firmness, persistence). Rouse yourself from your TORPOR (lethargy, sluggishness, dormancy) in time to hit the choir room before 9:00! In the meantime....Here's a burning question for you. (Didja' get our HOT vocabulary card featuring USHER? If not, RUSH right out and check your email!)
Where can you find “talkative twerps wearing tutus”? CONGRESS, of course! (Well, maybe not the part about the tutus, but “tutu’ is such a good “T” word!) Take a turn through a typical legislative session below in Voc. Tale T. But be careful. You know what they say about the legislative process. It’s a bit like making sausage. Even – make that ESPECIALLY – if you like the end product, it’s best not to observe the process!
When you’ve finished the tale, TABLE (set aside) you vocabulary efforts and turn your attention to a little legislative humor in “Bush Lays Off Congress: Will Outsource Lawmaking to India” @ http://www.davar.net/HUMOR/OUTCONGR.HTM
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TUTU STORY
“Don’t be TACITURN (untalkative, uncommunicative)!” urged the talkative twerp wearing a tutu. “Look at me – I have great TACT (skill in dealing with people in difficult situations), and no one could accuse me of TREPIDATION (fear, state of anxiety that makes you tremble),” he continued. “In fact, it’s often been said that my TEMERITY (recklessness, lack of regard for danger, nerve) pays TRIBUTE (gift expressing gratitude or respect) to my TORRID (hot, burning, parched by the sun) soul.
His TEMPERATE (moderate, showing self-restraint) companion held TENACIOUSLY (persistently) to her TENETS (principles) and tried to tune out her TEMPESTUOUS (stormy, TURBULENT) tutued friend’s TIRADE (harangue; long, loud, angry complaint or “fit”) She muttered, “He must not be TERRESTRIAL (of the earth) or TEMPORAL (relating to time).
The situation was entirely too TEDIOUS (boring, tiresome, trivial), so I turned to someone else at my table and asked, “Do you think Congress will TABLE (to remove from consideration) the discussion about the Doc Martens?”
There was an almost TANGIBLE (PALPABLE, existing materially, able to be touched) silence. Then a sandaled young man put an ice cube in his TEPID (lukewarm) tea and said, “That’s a touchy subject here. We’re all upset about our senator’s UNSCRUPULOUS (unprincipled, lacking in ethical values) TREACHERY (betrayal of trust, traitorousness) in supporting the bill.”
“We’re going to THWART (challenge, to prevent from taking place or succeeding) him,” said the TEMPERATE (moderate, not too hot or too cold) companion TERSELY (concisely, succinctly). “If that bill passes, I’ll TRUNCATE (shorten by chopping off the end) his term with allegations of USURY ( loan sharking; lending money at outrageous interest rates) and the UPSHOT (outcome, result) of this will be that I will USURP (illegally seize the power or rights of another) his power.”
Her words caught me unawares. The girl had seemed to me to be polite and UNASSUMING (modest, not pretentious), but instead she was an UNCOUTH (crude, unrefined, awkward) and UNRULY (difficult to govern, impossible to discipline) youth.
Craziness was UBIQUITOUS (everywhere, found throughout, permeating)!
From Berger, Larry, et al. UP YOUR SCORE: THE UNDERGROUND GUIDE TO THE SAT. New York: Workman, 1998,
Due to technical difficulty, no VocabuTale will be posted tonight. However, you may "brush up" your vocabulary skills by following this link (next to last on clickable links) to a series of WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE style vocabulary quizzes.
http://businessmajors.about.com/cs/quizzes/a/Vocabulary_Test.htm (If you can't find the clickable link, just copy and paste the URL!)
Each time you complete one, email your results page to Mrs. S.
MONDAY (7/5/05)
SUNDAY (7/4/04) Forgot to hit save...Nobody seemed to notice!
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT Scholars,
Please find Voc. Tale S below. It’s a tale of shocking courtroom shenanigans. When you finish, we’ve provided a list of SHYSTER (sleazy lawyer) jokes to give you a little lift.
A SHOCKING COURTROOM SAGA
My sweat glands were working overtime in the STAGNANT (not moving or flowing, motionless and stale) air of the courtroom as I STOLIDLY (showing little emotion or pain; emotionally solid) continued my unscrupulous questioning of the SINISTER (foreboding of evil) defendant on trial for SEDITION (conduct or language inciting rebellion against authority) -- related to the SURREPTITIOUS (done clandestinely -- secretly -- or by stealth) taking away of SUFFRAGE (franchise, right to vote). Although he remained STEADFAST (unwavering) in proclaiming his innocence, the jury was obviously SKEPTICAL (doubting, disbelieving). When I SUPERSEDED (took the place of) him on the courtroom floor, it was clear that the other lawyer’s points were SOPORIFIC (sleep-inducing) compared to my SUPERLATIVE (of the highest order, surpassing all others) arguments. his SCANTY (insufficient, small) arguments were SPARSELY (thinly spread or distributed) filled with SYNTHETIC-sounding (fabricated, not real, man-made) facts and his words STAGNATED as he spoke. He was an obvious SYCOPHANT (servile person who follows and flatters another person in the hope of winning favor), but the judge just sat SOMBERLY (gloomily) in the shadows, SERVILE (submissive, humbly yielding). I was confident. All further speech was SUPERFLUOUS (extra, beyond what is necessary). I know you’ll think me SHIFTLESS (lazy, showing lack of motivation, incompetent) , but I though I could afford to be SLOTHFUL (indolent) and not SUMMON (call forth) any more witnesses. So, SUPERCILIOUSLY (haughtily, conceitedly, disdainfully) I said, “The State rests, your Honor,” I ran out to lunch, and the jury was SEQUESTERED (isolated, set apart, separated).
Two hours later the jury was SUMMONED, and I waited drooling SALACIOUSLY (lecherously, erotically stimulating) , expecting the SUCCULENT (juicy, tasty) word “guilty.” So I was surprised when I heard the word “not” as well. “I’ve been SUBVERTED (undermined or overthrown) and SWINDLED (cheated, defrauded)!” I yelled. Then the bailiff hit me over the head, and I SUBMISSIVELY (yielding to the authority of another) accepted a SEDATIVE (something -- usually a drug-- that calms or tranquilizes).
Now I cultivate SANGUINE (reddish, bloody-colored -- BUT DON’T FORGET ALTERNATIVE MEANINGS like “robust” or “of cheerful or hopeful disposition”!) cattle and lead a much quieter, STATIC (having no motion or change at all) life.
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Riddles
What do you call a lawyer with an I. Q. of 50?
Your honor.
What do you call a lawyer whose gone bad?
Senator.
What is the difference between a lawyer and a trampoline?
You take off your shoes to jump on a trampoline!
In front of you stand four men: Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein and a lawyer. You are holding a gun which contains only three bullets. Who do you shoot?
Use all three bullets on the lawyer.
How can you tell when a lawyer is lying?
His lips are moving.
What is the difference between a dead dog in the road and a dead lawyer in the road?
There are skid marks in front of the dog.
What is the difference between a lawyer and a vulture?
The lawyer gets frequent flyer miles. orVultures can't take their wing tips off.
Why do behavioral scientists prefer lawyers to rats for their experiments?
1) there are more of the lawyers to work with,
2) lawyers are more expendable,
3) lawyers do more harm to society than rats,
4) lab assistants are less likely to develop a bond or feel sympathy for them,
5) rats arouse more feelings of compassion and humanity,
6) they multiply faster,
7) rats have an inate right to life and liberty,
8) animal rights groups will not object to their torture,
9) rats have more dignity, and
10) there are some things even a rat won't do.
What is the only disadvantage to using lawyers instead of rats in laboratory experiments?
It's harder to extrapolate the test results to human beings.
Why won't sharks attack lawyers?
Professional courtesy.
What do have when a lawyer is buried up to his neck in sand?
Not enough sand.
When lawyers die, why are they buried in a hole 24 feet deep?
Because deep down, they are all nice guys!
What do you get when you cross the Godfather with a lawyer?
An offer you can't understand.
Weekends......AHHHHH!!! The time for ROMANCE! Are you a real romantic? To test yourself for romantic quality, try "What's Your Dating Style?" quiz @
http://teenadvice.about.com/library/teenquiz/3/blquiz01.htm
Then ask yourself, how articulate am I? We've combined the AMOROUS and the ARTICULATE in the following bedtime VocabuTale for the Letter "R."
A ROMANCE
He was RECUMBENT (lying down) on his bed, RUMINATING (thinking about a lot, cogitating) on his RENASCENT (coming into being again) affair with the countess. She had left him and then REDRESSED (remedied, set right, compensated) their relationship by returning, and they had reached a RAPPROCHEMENT (reconciliation) Now that she was RECIPROCATING (returning mutually) his love, he was once again the happiest man in the REALM (kingdom). Or was he?
There was a rap on the door and the air was suddenly REDOLENT (fragrant) of her perfume. "Darling," she said, opening the door, her face REFULGENT (shining, radiant) with rapture. he frowned as she kissed him, and she laughed. "Really. Don't be such a RECALCITRANT (stubborn) child. You're being altogether too RETICENT (silent, restrained in behavior)." She kissed him again.
He remained REFRACTORY (disobedient, stubborn) and refused to smile. She came over and reclined next to him. "I'm sorry I left you. I had to. I needed room . . . " She began RECAPITULATING (repeating or stating again in a form that is more laconic and much briefer than the manner in which it was initially stated) the RELEVANT (having significant importance) parts of the RECONDITE (abstruse, profound) explanation she had given when she left. he did not respond.
Suddenly there was an explosion on the street below. Riotous sounds reverberated through the air. The countess strode swiftly to the window.
"It's the Roman army. They've been threatening to RAZE (demolish, tear down) the city and now they're on a RAMPAGE (course of wild behavior). A group of soldiers began to batter the front door. "Our only recourse is to run to the roof as rapidly as we can," she RATIOCINATED (thought logically and methodically). She climbed to the roof and crept over to the neighboring building. He hesitated at the gap between the buildings, momentarily paralyzed by the REDOUBTABLE (formidable, frighteningly awe-inspiring) distance to the ground. Then he leapt across, and they raced over the roofs, with the RAPACIOUS (plundering, ravenous, greedy) soldiers running RAMPANT (unrestrained) through the streets below, RAVAGING (plundering) the city. "REMORSELESS (having no regret or feeling of guilt) rogues," she muttered. "They'll change their tune later when they have to RECTIFY (correct, set right) all the damage they're doing."
"Undoubtedly they've RATIONALIZED (justified) their behavior by saying it was the only route left open for them, he replied."
They rested a moment, trying to recover from the exertion. Their faces were RUDDY (having a healthy, reddish color).
"You're wonderfully quick," he remarked.
"I can't REFUTE (disprove) that. I'm also RAVENOUS (extremely hungry). We'll have to risk a reappearance."
The outskirts of town were quiet. They slipped into a restaurant. They were led to a table and gratefully sat down. "Now listen here," he scolded, sipping his red wine. "I want some assurance that you won't run off again and leave me rueing the day I met you."
"Whatever are you RANTING (raving, speaking wildly) about?" she retorted.
He REITERATED (repeated) his request, becoming RILED (upset).
She laughed. "Darling, you're being ridiculous as well as REDUNDANT (repetitive). It's such a bore, really. Relax. I'm here now, and so is our REPAST (meal) at last."
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Check your email! And now for ill-fated CONVOCATION and a few quick vocabulary QUIPS, we turn to Voc. Tales Q.
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A QUICK MEETING OF MINDS
“QUORUM (minimum number of people that have to be at a meeting in order for the meeting to be official), QUORUM, we must have a QUORUM!” shouted the leader.
“Why?” asked an idiot. QUALITATIVELY (having to do with quality) speaking, it’s quicker to QUANTIFY (express as a number or amount) the quarks in a quarter.”
“Ahh, we are indeed in a QUAGMIRE (swamp, difficult situation that’s hard to get out of). We need a QUANTITATIVE (capable of being expressed as, or having to do with, a number or quantity) estimate of how many quacks are here.”
“Yes, it is a bit of a QUANDARY (state of uncertainty, dilemma),” spoke another idiot. “I know, why don’t we vote on whether or not to begin the meeting?”
“I have QUALMS (doubts, uneasiness, sudden pangs of sickness or faintness) about doing that,” said the first idiot.
“Quiet, you idiots, or you’ll be QUARANTINED (isolated because of disease)!” quoth the leader.
They QUAILED (drew back in fear) before his wrath, and both felt a bit QUEASY (nauseated, uneasy). “Now then,” said the leader, “don’t be QUERULOUS (complaining, peevish). I have a plan. You may think me somewhat QUIXOTIC (having the same foolish, impractical, romantic idealism as Don Quixote), but I truly believe that if we burst forth with enough clever QUIPS (snappy responses), we might be recognized as not being quite so stupid as we really are. And with that thought in mind, I’d like to close this meeting of the village idiots.”
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Brought to you QUIXOTICALLY by the DIDACTIC DUO + ONE
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT Scholar,
Before you PERUSE (examine, look over) “Petulant Peanuts,” Installment “P” in our continuing Vocabulary Tales, in order to replace the PAUCITY (dearth, lack of, scarcity) of your vocabulary with a PLETHORA (superabundance, excess) of PITHY (concise and meaningful) terms, perhaps you should take a moment to practice P.O.E.-ing at quizlab.com
And now for the less-than-PERSPICACIOUS (discerning, perceptive) story of Phil and Peanuts. You may have seen an equally PEDESTRIAN(mundane, commonplace) pair of PARAGONS (exemplars) nof PALTRY i(insignificant, small) ntellect, whose professional experience parallels that of Phil and Peanuts, in films like "Dude, Where’s My Car?"
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PETULANT PEANUTS
Philip DePance and his coworker, Peanuts Burnes, were on a lunch break from the PHILANTHROPIC (improvement of the world thorough charity; love of humanity in general) firm of “PAUCITY (scarcity, dearth, smallness in number) to PLETHORA (superabundance, excess)” when Phil suddenly asked, “Peanuts, what are we going to do?”
“I guess you should start by changing your name. Have you noticed that it sounds pitiful whether you say Philip DePance, Phil DePAnce of P.DePance?” she replied.
“No, it’s just a PEDESTRIAN (commonplace, ordinary) name! But what I meant was what are we going to do about the company’s PECUNIARY (relating to money) state? We are on a PRECIPICE (cliff, steep overhand) as it is, and if the PORCINE (related to pigs) PEDANT (boring person who knows a lot but has little practical experience) of a boss continues his practices, we’ll be living in PENURY (poverty, destitution) for sure!”
“Well, maybe we could frame him for PILLAGING (robbing violently) the company’s bank account! Rumors are already PERMEATING (spreading or flowing throughout) the office that he has a PENCHANT (strong liking or inclination) for PLUNDERING (robbing, pillaging).”
“Hmm . . . I’m a little PENSIVE (engaged in deep, often sad, thought), But I suppose it is the most POLITIC (shrewd, clever), PRAGMATIC (practical), and PERSPICACIOUS (perceptive, understanding) plan we could think of,” said Phil. “I’m PARCHED (made very dry --or thirsty-- by heating). Let’s start this meal!”
They ordered fruit after the waiter told them that the banana trees were PROLIFIC (fertile, producing lots of offspring, results, or work) at this time of year, and they were brought spotted bananas that seemed PALATABLE (acceptable to the taste, sufficiently good to be edible. Think: plate-able!) enough.
But soon Phil turned PALLID (extremely pale). “My PROBOSCIS (nose) is detecting something PUTRID (decomposed, foul-smelling),” he said.
“Eww!” Peanuts added. “And it’s not PALLIATING (abating, moderating the severity of)! It’s the bananas! I knew those spots PRESAGED (gave an indication or warning of something that will happen in the future) something.”
“Waiter,” Phil called, “We are PETULANT (unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered) already because of PECUNIARY problems and, to make a long story PITHY (concise and meaningful), are too PUSILLANIMOUS (timid, cowardly, wimpy) to PULVERIZE (grind to bits) these bananas properly. You seem PUISSANT (powerful, mighty) enough; do the job before the odor PROLIFERATES (increases or spreads rapidly)!”
“I don’t smell anything,” the waiter replied.
“Oh, don’t PREVARICATE (lie). We will not be PLACATED (appeased, pacified, calmed) until we have PALPABLE (tangible, capable of being touched of felt) proof that the PREVALENT (commonly occurring or existing) filth is gone!” said Peanuts in the fashion of a true PEDAGOGUE (schoolteacher or educator; boring, dry teacher).
PLAINTIVELY ( sad, melancholy), full of PATHOS (quality in something that makes you pity it), the waiter smashed the bananas and took them away. “Even POSTHUMOUSLY (continuing or done after one’s death), my PRECURSOR (predecessor, what came before) still PERFUNCTORILY (done routinely, carelessly, listlessly) makes me look like the PARAGON (model or example of perfection) of poor service! These bananas were planted by him!” he muttered as he walked off.
“Well, I feel better, Peanuts. We could work here!” Phil said, once again PLACID (calm, composed, undisturbed).
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Brought to you with PRECISION in DICTION by the DIDACTIC DUO + ONE
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT Scholar,
As you will soon see, not all love stories have a happy ending. Even though our PROTAGONIST in Voc. Tale O is OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH so serious, his romantic OVERTURES are OBLITERATED by the OBDURATE objections of his only one’s OMNIPOTENT father, a POTENTATE of some power!
A FAIRY TALE
I went to the king, seeking to marry his daughter, but he was OBDURATE (hardened against good influence) in his refusal. I was OBSEQUIOUS (fawning, too easily compliant), but he was an ODIOUS (offensive, hateful) and OBSTREPEROUS (unruly, defiant, boisterous) man who kicked me out of the OPULENT (rich) palace because I was not pleasing to his OLFACTORY (pertaining to the sense of smell) sense. I went away, determined to OBTRUDE (force oneself or one’s ideas on others) my marital aspirations on him by raising an army and assaulting his OMNIPOTENT (all-powerful) forces. However, my own forces were blown to OBLIVION (state of being totally forgotten).
I then went to see OMNISCIENT (all-knowing) Olga, an old one-eyed witch who dealt in the OCCULT (pertaining to supernatural phenomena) and OSCILLATED (swung back and forth) between sanity and insanity. When I arrived at the ORIFICE (small hole, opening, or vent) that led to her cave, she OGLED (stared at) me with her one eye as though I was OBTUSE (stupid, or thick-headed) to visit her. She advised me to go and be of service to the king, to offer to carry out every ONEROUS (burdensome) task, OSTENSIBLY (apparently, seemingly) out of the kindness of my heart, but really to penetrate the castle and elope with the princess.
I made my way to the OSTENTATIOUS (showy, pretentious) royal city. As I OVERTLY (openly and observably, not hidden) approached the gate, however, and OFFICIOUS (obnoxious and pushy in giving opinions) guard informed me that I had been OSTRACIZED (banished, excluded) from the kingdom. heartbroken, I left and went to seek my fortune selling doorknobs to nomads.
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Brought to you OSTENSIBLY for your EDIFICATION, but also for your AURAL, if not olifactory enjoyment by THE DIDACTIC DUO + ONE
Although you were NAIEVE (unsophisticated, innocent) NOVICES (beginners) and NEOPHYTES (novices, new converts) , your NASCENT (INCIPIENT, beginning to exist or develop) vocabulary skills are growing and maturing. We hope you are no longer NONPLUSSED (bewildered, perplexed, put at a loss for what to say or do) by the NOISOME (offensive, disgusting as a bad smell, harmful o injurious) test and its NOXIOUS (injurious, harmflul) pitfalls ("suker bait"). Understanding the NUANCES (slight shading of meaning) of test construction (POWER TEST -- easy, medium, and hard) and knowing the necessary tips will help you NEGOTIATE (navigate) the NOTORIOUS (infamous) obstacle NONCHALANTLY (casually, indifferently). If you apply your INDOMITABLE (that which cannot be dominated or conquered) will to practice your skills, virtually all attempts by ETS to NULLIFY (make void) your build-up points through the nauseating guessing penalty, will be NUGATORY (insignificant, trifling)! Through dogged practice you will become the apotheosis of excellence, a paragon – NONPAREIL (having no equal, incomparable)!
Now for your nightly VocabulTale.....Tonight's feature is the letter "N"!
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A VILLAIN’S DEATH
The NEFARIOUS (evil) villain had reached the NADIR (absolutely lowest point) of his NOTORIOUS (famous for something bad, INFAMOUS) career. He had run into his NEMESIS (vengeful enemy), Nice Ned, the sheriff, after stealing some counterfeit cash -- he often didn’t notice the NUANCES (subtle variation in color, meaning, or some other quality) of forged bills. Now he lay dying from two fatal earlobe wounds near a NOISOME (offensive, disgusting, filthy, malodorous) junkyard in the desert.
Looking back, he recalled his NASCENT (emerging, coming into being) life as an outlaw. He had started as a NAIVE (lacking in worldly wisdom or experience) NOVICE (beginner) in New York, but when the NOXIOUS (harmful to health or morals) city fumes got to him, he headed west, where a NOVEL (new, unusual, different) future awaited him. In later years, no longer a NEOPHYTE (beginner), his NONCHALANT (appearing casual, cool indifferent, “chilled out”) attitude had left him NONPLUSSED (perplexed, baffled) . Now nearly dead, he wanted to establish a NEXUS (bond or link between things) with his lost youth, but it was too late.
from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Hoping you are not NONPLUSSED (or NONPLUSED is an acceptable spelling, as well) by these NOVEL “N” words, THE DIDACTIC DUO + ONE
Does PSAT practic make you MOROSE (bad-tempered, gloomy, withdrawn) sulky ? MORIBUND (nearly lifeless, outmoded, in a dying state)? SNAP OUT OF IT! Half the world lives on less than $2.00 a day! So what's the MORAL (lesson) for your PSAT MORALE (attitude)? Not MOOT (without significance, purely academic), we hope!
Now it's time for a bit of history with a big vocabulary M-pact! hmmmmmmMMMMMMMMM!!! For the BULK of history, men believed that MALARIA was caused by MIASMAS. We know that it is not the much-MALIGNED bad air which carries the MINUSCULE and MALEVOLENT disease germ, but the pesky MOSQUITO.
Now MEANDER through your nightly Voc. Tale . Tonight’s tale features the letter “M.” Hope you enjoy “Mark’s Problems,” below!
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MARK’S PROBLEMS
In a small MARITIME (near the sea, concerned with shipping or navigation), no make that “Madison County,” village, there lived a MOROSE (sullen, depressed) musician named Mark. Most of the citizens were MAGNANIMOUS (noble, generous, forgiving, magnificently kind) to him because he was a METICULOUSLY (extremely careful and precise) clean MENDICANT (beggar), but there was a MINUSCULE-brained (very tiny) MALEVOLENT (wishing evil upon others, malicious, the opposite of benevolent) gang in town who MALICIOUSLY (with evil intent) MALIGNED (slandered, said bad thing about) him. “Hey, Mark,” they would yell. “You’re more MALODOROUS (stinky) than a moo-cow.” Yeah, ‘Mark’ is a MISNOMER (inappropriate or wrong name): you should be called Moo-k!”
Mark bore the MENDACIOUS (lying) gang no MALICE (spite, the desire to do evil to others), though he wished he could, through some ingenious MANEUVER (skillful or clever move), MEANDER (wander around aimlessly) through the town’s MYRIAD (many, lots, a very large amount) streets without these MONOTONOUS (boring, repetitious) MORDANT (bitingly sarcastic or nasty) MALEDICTIONS (spoken curses). He grew MELANCHOLY (sad, depressed, PENSIVE) and suffered from a great MALAISE (feeling of illness or depression) as he MOROSELY contemplated their MALIGNANCY(malevolent and malicious acts). He could be found sitting, listening to the MELLIFLUOUS (sweet sounding, flowing with honey or sweetness) sounds of jazz and classical trumpet, with a virtual MIASMA (poisonous atmosphere or cloud) over him, snuffling quietly. There, that story wasn’t so MACABRE (gross, ghastly, suggestive of horrible death and decay), was it?
adapted from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
A brief HARANGUE (tirade)...
ARE YOU GUYS CHECKING YOUR EMAIL? The PAUCITY (few in number) of responses is DISCONCERTING (disturbing, confusing, frustrating, embarrassing) and DEMORALIZING (discouraging). JUST DO IT!
One thing PSAT Workshops lack is LONGEVITY (long life). They seem LILLIPUTIAN (minute, extremely small) in comparison with regular school, don’t they? We LAMENT (mourn, grieve) their EPHEMERAL (quickly passing, transient) nature, and we LOATHE (detest) losing you. As somebody named Will once noted, Parting is INDEED “such sweet sorrow”! Let us CAPITALIZE on (take advantage of, make the most of) the brief time together which remains.
We can hardly wait for July 8 when we see your smiling faces and observe your SCINTILLATING (brilliantly sparkling) intellects in action. We’re anticipating your skits and parodies – your opportunity to showcase your VOLUMINOUS (very large) vocabularies and SCINTILLATING wit in VIGNETTES (anecdotes, brief stories)! Remember, we plan to preserve your performance in the FORMER (first mentioned or listed) for POSTERITY (future generations) by means of videotape!
And now for tonight’s bedtime VocabuTale here’s........
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An Open and Frank Note from the Authors
With such words in this list as LEWD (indecent, obscene) , LICENTIOUS (immoral, morally wild or sexually unrestrained), and LECHEROUS (lewd, lustful) in the L’s, you’re probably looking forward to a great story. Well, you won’t find one here, but not because we were too LACKADAISICAL (uncaring, lacking in interest or spirit) or LANGUID ((lacking energy, weak). We actually did write a pretty LASCIVIOUS (lusty, lewd) one, but instead of LAUDING (praising) it, the editor LOATHED (hated) it. After she read it, she LITHELY (gracefully, supplely, limberly) LAMBASTED (thrashed, mauled, beat, whipped, or bludgeoned with big things and other than fun stuff; to scold sharply or rebuke) us with LETHAL (deadly) cans of lima beans ( We suspect they were obtained through LARCENY), lacerating our ligaments. This made us a bit LUGUBRIOUS (mournful or sad), but we were willing to LUCUBRATE (study hard and in a scholarly fashion) some more and come up with a new story. But when she LACONICALLY (briefly, tersely, concisely, succinctly) called us ‘LIMACINE (pertaining to or resembling a slug -- This word won’t be on the test, but you may find it useful, particularly if you have younger siblings) idiots,” we left, suddenly overcome by our LATENT (potential but not yet displayed) LETHARGY (sluggishness, indifference), LANGUOR (sluggishness, lack of energy), and LASSITUDE (listlessness, state of exhaustion or weakness). And so, in protest, we didn’t do an L story. Humblest apologies. We hope you will forgive us.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
Lexicographical ignorance LAMBASTED by the DIDADIC DUO + ONE
CLICK THE "NOTIFY ME" BUTTON RIGHT NOW IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY!
(1.) Be sure to check your email for a COVERT (undercover) operation where you “make” the MALEFACTORS (in Bush-speak: "evildoers") while learning the SECRET CLUSTER (Synonym Clusters I from your blue Vocab. Packet).
(2.) All you SHERLOCKS keep those Vocabulary Mysteries rollin’ in. We won’t send you the LATTER ones until you complete the FORMER!
(3..) Do your 20 and hit the online practice with CELERITY (speed)! We detect a LAMENTABLE (to be mourned) lack of INDOMITABLE (that which cannot be conquered or dominated) will here!
I'm afraid your RACONTEURS (story-tellers)are a bit LACONIC (of few words) tonight. After, all it is the weekend! Tonight's tale is the tale of the JADED JINGOIST. It's CONCISE, SUCCINCT, yes, even TERSE (brief and to the point, PITHY even abrupt to the point of rudeness), but not PROSAIC or PEDESTRIAN (mundane, ordinary) in the least!
For the CLASSIC poop (or EXCREMENT for those of you with SCATALOGICAL fixations) on the ULTIMATE JADED JINGOIST, go to Blockbuster and rent Citizen Kane, Orson Well's masterpiece based on the life of William Randolph Hearst, America's most famous jingoist.
Well-educated people "in the know" experience no PERPLEXITY (confusion, bemusement) when other equally well-versed individuals ALLUDE (refer)to "ROSEBUD." If you don't "get it," read this first for your vocabulary's sake, then rush right out to get IT (Citizen Kane) for cultural literacy's sake! If you'd like to read more about this LANDMARK (milestone) film, this cinematic WATERSHED (milestone), go to http://www.filmsite.org/citi.html. If you ind yoursel in an IMPECUNIOUS (without money) state and you'd like to borrow a copy of the video, come by Room A-186 (Shivers). If you want to debate its merits, contact Drew Wilkerson!
##################### (Don't forget to download a copy for your notebook!)
CRIME DOESN'T PAY
The JINGOIST (extreme patriot) became JADED (wearied, especially by too much of the good life). He didn't feel as JOCOSE (merry, joking), JOCULAR (jolly, joking), or JOCUND (merry, jolly) as he once did. Eventually, he turned to KNAVERY (dishonest, mischievous dealing) , robbing from KIOSKS (pavilion or small open booth where items are bought or sold). It was KISMET (fate)that he got caught. It takes a little KEN (range of knowledge) to be a KLEPTOMANIAC (compulsive thief) -- a lesson for us all!
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
PLEASE NOTE:
(1.) We've moved the links to the top so that you won't forget to explore online helps. Try one new link a day. But be STALWART with Quizlab and Number2.com. (
(2.) HINT: Check email for Quizlab resources and PSAT Mystery Men. (Amanda J's on Mystery #5! Where are you?) ALSO, there's a SPELLING ERROR in the "pokey" and "LAMENTABLE" email. Spot it and be the first to report by return email!
FELICITATIONS, PERSPICACIOUS PSAT Scholars,
Let this message be absolutely PERSPICUOUS! If you wish to avoid an IMPASSE on your PSAT, you must be an INDOMITABLE student with an INSATIABLE intellectual appetite and an IMPECCABLE vocabulary! You also need to be INDEFATIGABLE in your efforts at mastering group dynamics. (Remember......due date for skit scripts written by EMINENT students = IMMINENT! Here’s hoping that the light of verbal excellence will EMINATE from your script!)
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SIX IRASCIBLE FOOLS
Kyra, MKK, Aaron, Andre, Mitch, and McNeill were traveling INCOGNITO (in disguise) in the INCOMMODIOUS (lacking space, not commodious) bus. They had reached an IMPASSE (dead end) in their INDOMITABLE (unconquerable, impossible to dominate) attempts to think of sentences for the PSAT "I's" and were nearly INSENSATE (unconscious, lacking sensation) with INDOLENCE (laziness).
"Hey, McNeill, do you have any INGENIOUS (original, resourceful) ideas for 'INSCRUTABLE (enigmatic, difficult to understand),' you INEPT (incompetent) fool?" Aaron inquired.
McNeill's face remained IMPASSIVE (without emotion, expressionless). "You know you're just INCITING (arousing, instigating) me to anger with your INSIPID (lacking excitement, VAPID) INVECTIVE (abusive put-down). If you continue this IMPROPRIETY (improper, without displaying propriety) , this INVIDIOUS (offensive, making people angry) behavior, I'll become IRASCIBLE (easily provoked, irritable)."
"Are we to infer that you are questioning Aaron's IMPECCABLE (flawless and faultless) integrity by implying that he acted in an IGNOBLE (not noble) manner?" Kyra interjected INGENUOUSLY (innocently, showing childlike simplicity) "I'm sure he couldn't stand the IGNOMINY (dishonor, disgrace)."
"If you all don't shut up, I'll be forced to IMPALE (to pierce with a sharp stake or point) you. Especially since you IMBIBED (drank in, absorbed) my iodine," MKK shouted.
"There seems to be an INSIDIOUS (working or spreading stealthily, sneaking inside to do something bad -- NOT to be confused with "INVIDIOUS") force at work among us," Andre added. "Our INCONTROVERTIBLY (indisputably) INSATIABLE (impossible to satisfy) desire to help our fellow PSAT scholars is failing!"
"But what, ho!" Mitch exclaimed. "I believe our destination is IMMINENT (about to occur, impending)."
So the bus stopped, and they got off, continuing to argue INCESSANTLY (nonstop, ceaselessly).
adapted from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Undergrounnd Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
INCESSANTLY yours,
THE DIDACTIC DUO + ONE, otherwise known as your PERSPICACIOUS PSAT PEDAGOGUES … and, when particularly IRASCIBLE, the TERMAGANT TRIO!
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT-ers,
After you've read about the ill-fated HOMILY (sermonlike speech) of the HIRSUIT (hairy) priest below (tonight's VocabuTale) and you've NEGOTIATED (navigated) the easy and medium and hard SC review at QUIZLAB (please note that you have a BLUE HARD COPY of the SC exercises so that you can practice marking +/-/0 and “KILLING DISTRACTORS"), head for the REEEEEEEEAAAALY H-A-I-R-Y stuff at number2.com. Work TEST SECTIONS and VOCABULARY!
Remember that merely desiring (even EARNESTLY) a spiking score will not SUFFICE (be sufficient or enough). To achieve a point PRECIPICE (high point, brink), you must exert the INDOMITABLE (that which cannot be controlled or dominated) will and personal discipline required to do your DISCOMMODING (causing inconvenience, disturbing) and DISCOMFITING (disconcerting, confusing) DAILY DRILL!
To PLUS or not to PLUS, to fill-in-the-blank, to do the 2nd first, to OBLITERATE (wipe out, destroy completely) what you eliminate -- all TACTICS must become second nature, INHERENT (within,built-into)in your approach to S.C.'s! Too bad they aren't INNATE (inborn)!
----THE END of this HARANGUE (tirade; long, noisy speech delivered in a vehement manner) This HARANGUE (tirade) is brought to you by your friendly, neighborhood PSAT PEDAGOGUES (teachers) who are rapidly turning into the TERMAGANT (shrewish woman) TRIO as a result of your massive ABDICATION (to renounce or relinquish formally) of your responsibility to practice! LET'S GET SERIOUS!
P.S. Don’t forget to
(1) print out a hard copy of tonight’s VocabulTale for your notebook!
(2) make vocabulary flashcards for word contained below that you don’t know!
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THE HOMILY
The HIRSUTE (hairy) young priest was preparing his HOMILY (sermonlike speech), and he needed advice from the HOARY (gray or white from age, old) HAGGARD (wasted, worn) pastor.
"I gotta give a good talk so I can move up in the church HIERARCHY (social structure, social pecking order)," he explained. "Can you help me?"
"You speak on HALLOWED (holy, sacred) ground," the pastor began," so don't HARANGUE (mean, nasty, angry speech or tirade) and be not HAUGHTY (proud, vain, arrogant). Don't forget to condemn HEINOUS (grossly wicked, vile, odious) HEDONISM (philosophy of trying to be happy all the time; a funky state of being in which you do your own thing and don't worry about morality), though. A good public response to your sermon will be a HARBINGER (forerunner, something that signals the approach of something, omen) of your advancement." The priest worked all night, searching for HACKNEYED (overused, trite)expressions and hip HOMONYMS (word that sounds like another word but has a different meaning). But when dawn came, he just said, "Oh, the heck with it."
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the Sat. New York: Workman, 1998.
This HYPOTHETICAL (not actual, but supposed) tale and the HUFFY HULABALOO are brought to you through the HERCULEAN (requiring great strength) efforts of the TEST-SKILLS TRIUMVIRATE
KUDOS to McNeill, who is in a class by himself, having completed all the 50/50's, P.O.E.'s, and S.C.'s posted at Quizlab! And glory, LAUD, and honor to Nathan, Brent, and Di who are burnin' it up at Number2.com! Katy G. Mitch, and Kyra are off to a great start,too, with Mallory, McNeill, Elizabeth, and Katherine W. right behind. Eat-your-hearts-out, PROCRASTINATORS!
If you haven’t checked your email, DO! Then be sure you read your 20 and do at least one section and twenty vocabulary words at Number2.com.
Now it’s time to move from “F” to “G” in our Vocabulary Tales. Let’s do it with a FRACTURED FAIRY TALE. You've enjoyed "THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF" for years. Try out this more OBSCURE (lesser-known) and ERUDITE (scholarly) version!
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LESSER-KNOWN ADVENTURE OF THE
THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF
The three Billy Goats GRUFF (rough or stern in aspect or speech) met in the GLOAMING (twilight) near the bridge.
“I’m really scared of that GRUESOME (grisly, gory) troll, “ Billy Goat #1 said, GESTICULATING (gesturing, signaling with hands and arms) toward the bridge. Despite her GOSSAMER (light, delicate, insubstantial) gown, she doesn’t seem too GREGARIOUS (friendly, outgoing, sociable).”
“I won’t GAINSAY (deny, dispute, say something against what someone else says) that, and I heard her GOURMET (one who appreciates fine food and drink, EPICURE, CONNOISSEUR) appetite includes a GRISLY (gory) taste for goat’s hooves!” BG #2 added nervously. “I really don’t like GRATUITOUS (unnecessary or unwarranted) violence.”
Cowards!” BG #3 GIBED (heckled or mocked, taunted, picked on). “I don’t listen to nonGERMANE (relevant, appropriate) GARBLED (confused, mixed up) GIBBERISH (rapid, incomprehensible, or nonsensical speaking; DRIVEL) that only GULLIBLE (believing anything) fools like you would believe. I bet that troll is really a cool gal. Watch me cross that bridge!”
“You have a GRANDIOSE (excessively impressive or grand) opinion of yourself, but you’re really pretty dumb. So long, bud,” Goat #1 replied with a GRIMACE (twisted facial expression), anticipating the GRAPHIC (vivid, explicit) goat-mutilation horror that soon followed.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: workman, 1998.
To all our wonderful word CONNOISSEURS,
From your favorite RACONTEURS (story-tellers), the TEACHING TRIUMVIRATE
Dear PSAT Scholars, otherwise known as PERSPICACIOUS PSAT-ers::
Greetings and FELICITATIONS! I’m BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! PROFUSE apologies for last night’s SNAFU. I was unexpectedly unable to connect! But fear not, I’ve posted for Mon. & Tues. tonight, so you can feast your eyes on a PLETHORA of PSAT terms! So without further “adieu,” we bring you the letter “F.”
Installment F in our Vocabulary Tales is a very FISHY tale indeed. (Smells kinda' PISCINE -- fishlike. It is designed to FORTIFY your PSAT vocabulary. (We're not being FACETIOUS here!) If you can't read it with FACILITY and w/o FALTERING, fill the FISSURES in your knowledge by FAMILIARIZING yourself with the parenthetical information provided.
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FRED THE FILCHER
Freddy has a FLAGRANT (deliberately conspicuous, glaring) FOIBLE (weakness, flaw). He FILCHED (stole) fish, sometimes with FERVOR (passion) and sometimes with FORBEARANCE (patience), but he never FLUCTUATED (made irregular variation) from his FORTE (strong point -- pronounced FOR-tay). One day his mother, returning from the garden -- which was FECUND (fertile) with fish remains -- said FACETIOUSLY (joking or jesting) , "Freddy, is it FEASIBLE (workable, plausible, possible) that you'll FOMENT (stir up, agitate, incite) a FETID (smelly) FULMINATION (explosion, roar, loud denouncement) of fish odor if you continue to FRENETICALLY (frenzied, frantic) FLAUNT (show off) your FILCHING habits?"
FROWARD (stubborn, obdurate) Freddy frowned. "That is a FATUOUS (inane, foolish) as well as FALLACIOUS (false, incorrect) suggestion." Then he uttered the following FASTIDIOUSLY (careful about details, impossible to satisfy) crafted rationalization. "This FACET (side, aspect, or face of something) of my abilities is not FUTILE (completely ineffective) , as it provides fish for our otherwise FRUGAL (sparing in expense, stingy, miserly) dinner. You should FAWN (grovel, be overly admiring)over me, not FULMINATE against me."
The preceding story is FICTITIOUS (false, not genuine), FABRICATED (invented or made up often in order to deceive) by the authors.
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
All glory, LAUD (praise), and honor to the vocabulary AFICIONADOS (devotees, fans) who are sleuthing their way to excellence with our emailed vocabulary mysteries. KUDOS (honors praise) to those of you with VORACIOUS (insatiable) appetites for for vocabulary! We invite the rest of you to SAVOR (taste with pleasure or zest) delectable MORSEL (bits) of “food for thought,” as well.
Now for a bedtime story from your favorite RACONTEUR (excellent story teller).........
Today we explore VOCABULARY through VEGETABLES. (That means we'll use FLORA as opposed to FAUNA). PERUSE installment E in our Vocabulary Tales -- that's "E" for "EDIFICATION"!
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ESSAY ON EGGPLANT
I want to know which ERUDITE (scholarly) vegetable maker invented eggplant. If he is dead, I will EXHUME (disinter, to remove from a grave) his coffin and EFFACE (erase, rub out) the EPITAPH (memorial text carved on a tombstone) from his tombstone. If he is alive, I will burn him in EFFIGY (dummy or mannequin, usually for symbolic torturing--you know......like the Brits do to Guy Fawkes every year!) and ensure he will not be EULOGIZED (speech of praise at one's funeral) when he dies. Eggplant is the EPITOME (something that perfectly represents an entire class of things; embodiment -- pronounced eh-PIT-oh-me) of bad vegetables and its destruction is EXIGENT (urgent, requiring immediate attention) . I ESCHEW (avoid, shun) eating it. Its badness is almost ETHEREAL (not of the material world) . I would rather become EMACIATED (excessively thin, weak) than eat eggplant. This is an EXACTING (demanding) demand, but would someone please EDIFY (enlighten, educate) me, without being ESOTERIC (known only by a few people) or EQUIVOCAL (ambiguous, capable of two interpretations) , as to one good thing about eggplant? It's mushy, it has seeds, it makes my tongue itch, it has a dopey name, and it tastes like the droppings that an EQUESTRIAN (pertaining to horsemen or horsemanship)slob forgot to clean up. I wish all the soil on the world's eggplant farms would ERODE (to diminish or destroy by small amounts) . Just thinking about eggplant makes me EFFETE (tired, barren, decadent), Oh and get this -- when eggplants fertilize each other, the round ones with lots of seeds are the female ones and the long, narrow ones are the males. And they do it EBULLIENTLY (bubbly, overflowing with excitement) in public, in front of all the other vegetables. What would happen if humans EMULATED (to imitate closely) this behavior?
from Berger, Larry et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
1. Read your 20!!!!
2. Check your email! Thanks to all who’ve responded to the email address check. (What’s the matter with the rest of you DILATORY (tardy) RESPONDENTS?
3. SPECIAL “Snaps” to Mitch, Amanda, and Mallory on solving last night's mystery! If you don't know what we're talking about, check your email POSTHASTE (without delay) and do a little SLEUTHING for yourself!
4. Spend a little time at number2.com. (And remember, no pain = no gain.)
5. Run through the flashcards.
6. Superlative "Snaps" to sumptuous snack providers – all comestibles served during the week = delectable!
7. Please deliver PATERNAL FELICITATIONS on this AUSPICIOUS day!
A REMINDER:
PSAT skills MUST be composed in time for practice and vetting. Were you listening in class? Ms. D's INCISIVE (cutting to the heart of the matter) analysis is correct. You have demonstrated SCINTILLATING (sparkling) intellects; now where's that INDOMITABLE WILL??
Now for your Nighty-night VocabuTale...........It centers on words beginning with the letter "D"!
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THE DISTRAUGHT DOGCATCHER
Dan was DISTRAUGHT (anxious, worried, distressed). He knew he'd soon have to go up to the DAIS (raised platform) and declare his candidacy for dogcatcher. He knew he was DEVOID (completely lacking, void, empty, without)of charisma and not a DYNAMIC (energetic, vigorous, forceful) speaker. He wasn't even DEXTEROUS (adroit or skillful in the use of hands or body) at catching canines. Doubtless, he would DEBASE (to lower in quality or value, adulterate) himself by speaking like a DERANGED (having a severe mental disorder, being insane) fool.
Trying to appear DAUNTLESS (bold), he shambled forward with a DEARTH (scarcity, paucity) of enthusiasm. He tried to picture his audience all in DIAPHANOUS (translucent, gossamer) gowns, but it did not help his mood at all.
"Ahem," he began, but was DETERRED (prevented or discouraged from happening) from continuing when he DESCRIED discerned, caught sight of something which is difficult to catch sight of) the DIABOLICAL (fiendish, devilish, nastily scheming) Great Dane that was rapidly DEPLETING (lessening the supply or content of) his audience by devouring them. Feeling this DEVASTATION (ruin by violent action) might DEROGATE (detract, take away from) his speech, Dan's thoughts were thrown into sudden DISCORD (lack of harmony), and he felt a DRASTIC (severe) need to DEFENESTRATE (the act of throwing something out of the window -- It's HIGHLY unlikely you'll see this on the PSAT. However, you may wish to DEFENESTRATE your PSAT Proctor!) himself. Using himself as a DECOY (lure or bait) to get the beast's attention, he DEMURRED (objected mildly), "ummmmmm. . . please stop!" People DISCERNED (detected by use of the senses) his foolishness.
Later that day, a supporter DISPARAGED (belittled, reduced in esteem) Dan's speech. "It was rather DESULTORY (aimless, rambling, haphazard, disconnected). DIVERS (several) DIVERSE (distinct, varied, differing) rumors have been DISSEMINATED (dispensed or distributed) that he is DEPRAVED (morally corrupt, debased, perverted). We'll have trouble DELUDING (deceiving) the public into believing the contrary."
As ever, DEPLETING the dictionary in the service of EXPONENTIALLY expanding your vocabulary,
Yours truly, THE DIDACTIC DUO + ONE
PREFACE or PROLOGUE: We suggest you print a hard copy of each nightly VocabuTale to file in your test skills notebook. This will FACILITATE (to make easy or less difficult) vocabulary study.
Dear PERSPICACIOUS PSAT-er,
If you wish to be counted among the PSAT COGNOCENTI (persons who have or claim to have special knowledge and appreciation of a particular field; CONNOISSEURS), you must expand those sorely CIRCUMSCRIBED (limited, narrow) LEXICONS (dictionary, particular vocabulary). SO after a brief reminder to be ASSIDUOUS (industrious, devotedly persevering) in your efforts at Number2.com and Quizlab (please note that I've given you HARD copies of the online SC practice so that you can PRACTICE marking key words --like the DOCTOR-- and killing distractors. Just mark answers online to get immediate feedback!),we’re on to tonight’s VocabuTale with CELERITY (swiftness, speed)! Dust off your SLEUTHING (detective) skills and dive in!
“C”-incerely,
Your PSAT PEDAGOGUES
Tonight’s letter is “C.”
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A MYSTERY
It was one of those steamy nights when the sky is lousy with stars. I was enjoying a CATHARTIC (cleansing, allowing a release of tension or emotion) CEREBRATION (thought) and CULLING (selecting, weeding out) the blue M & M’s CACHE in the office of the Sure-Lock Homes Locksmith and Detective Agency. Suddenly, my COGITATIONS (ruminations, deep and careful thinking) were interrupted by a CACOPHONOUS (sounding discordant, terrible and generally unpleasant to listen to, opposite of “euphonious”) sound and a cataclysmic vibration that reverberated through my CAPACIOUS (spacious) office. I stepped with CIRCUMSPECTION (prudence, caution) into the hall because I was afraid someone might be up to some CHICANERY (trickery). I found a CHAOTIC (utter confusion) scene: a CORPULENT (obese, fat bodied) man lying CONTORTED (twisted, bent) at the bottom of the stairs. Blood was gushing though a wound in his side, and I could see the CILIATED (having tiny hairs) lining of his small intestine. I decided to take charge.
I said with COMPUNCTION (strong uneasiness caused by guilt; remorse, contrition), “Golly, are you okay?”
He replied CAUSTICALLY ((burning, characterized by a bitter wit) , “Sure, I’m just swell. And how was your day?”
“Peachy,” I said.
At that he bellowed CHOLERICALLY (hot-temperedly). “You CALLOUS (unfeeling, unsympathetic) piece of CARRION (rotting flesh)! Can’t you see I’ve been shot? Did you think this hole in my chest was a CONGENITAL (existing at birth) condition? Get me to a hospital with CELERITY (swiftness, speed)!”
“You don’t have to be so CAPTIOUS (fault-finding), CANTANKEROUS (ill-natured, quarrelsome), and CHURLISH (boorish, rude). Let me COGITATE (think deeply and carefully, ruminate)!”
“If I don’t have this wound CAUTERIZED (to burn tissue), I’ll be a CADAVER (corpse).”
At that moment a comely broad walked into the office. She COMPORTED (behaved in a particular way) herself calmly. She was voluptuous and yet seemed CHASTE (pure, unspoiled, virginal). I was overcome with CONCUPISCENT (relating to sexual desire, lustful) thoughts that should be CENSORED (removed due to inappropriate nature). She pointed at the wounded man and said, “We were in my apartment; he got up to answer the door, and suddenly I heard a CACOPHONOUS sound and a cataclysmic vibration that must have reverberated in your CAPACIOUS office.
Just then my assistant, Watt, entered. he said, handing me the phone, “My kid wants to know what sort of tree he should plant in our garden. What do you think, Sure-lock?”
“A lemon tree, my dear Watt’s son,” I said.
Then Watt became COGNIZANT (fully informed and aware, conscious) of the situation. he COWERED (to quiver and shrink from fear) and said, “What is that?”
“It’s a plant with little yellow fruit and . . .”
He interrupted me, “No, that body on the floor.”
“Oh, golly, I forgot. We should get him to a hospital. But wait!” I COUNTERMANDED (canceled a command), “I need to stop for COMESTIBLES (food) on the way!”
We all lifted the body CONCURRENTLY (at the same time) and put it in my car.
When we arrived at the hospital, the doctor informed us that the CORPULENTman was dead.
“Golly, that’s too bad,” I said with CONTRITION (remorse, repentance, bitter regret felt owing to wrongdoing).
Well, it was time for me to get to the bottom of this heinous crime. CONVOKING (calling together, causing to assemble) the small crowd, I asked the dame, “Who was that man?”
“My husband,” she replied, CRESTFALLEN (dejected).
“Were your CONJUGAL (pertaining to marriage) relations good?”
“Well, no, in fact we had been CELIBATE (without sexual activity) for a long time.”
“Why?”
“Speaking with CANDOR (frankness), I chose to be CHASTE" (virtuous, free from indecency, not having enegaged in ILLICIT -- illegal-- sex).
“Is it CRASS (uncultured, crude) to ask why you chose to be CHASTE?”
“Because it starts with the letter C.”
“Aha! Well, let’s get to the CRUX (main point, central issue, heart of the matter) of the situation. Did you kill your husband?”
“How dare you CENSURE (criticize, blame) me like that. What a CALUMNIOUS (slanderous, defamatory) CONJECTURE (statement made without adequate evidence)!”
I repeated, “Did you kill him?”
“With CHAGRIN (embarrassment), she CAPITULATED (surrendered). “Well, only a little, but Watt will CORROBORATE (to testify in agreement, to support with testimony) that. He CAJOLED (coaxed) me into it.”
“Watt! What brought you to it? CUPIDITY (greed, avarice)? All the time I thought you were on the side of the law and you were really COVERTLY (concealed, secret) planning this crime. My CREDULITY (gullibility)! You CHARLATAN (quack, someone who pretends he’s someone he’s not)! I will bring you both to justice without CLEMENCY (mildness of temper -- especially leniency toward an enemy or in sentencing a criminal), and I’m sure you will be CASTIGATED (punished)with a prison sentence and CORPORAL (of the body, bodily) punishment COMMENSURATE (equal, proportionate) with the seriousness of the crime.”
Taken from Berger, Larry, et al. Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT. New York: Workman, 1998.
EPILOGUE: Just a reminder ............
...to read your BLUE BIBLE (201 Words… and MVP Vocab. Packet) daily and to finish crosswords and exercises.
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