NEW VOCABULARY STORY 16
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
PROPONENT
PRONE
PROFOUND
PROMPT
PROLIFIC
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
Sole proponents of an idea are prone to profound
nearsightedness. Working in groups helps prompt new idea
that keep people prolific.
SIMPLE VERSION:
Lone supporters of an idea tend to be very closed minded.
Working in groups helps spark new idea that keep people productive.
PARAPHRASE:
People working alone are not opened to new ideas. Groups help
avoid this so people can achieve more.
NEW VOCABULARY STORY 17
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
CULPABLE
COMPLACENCY
CURSORY
CRYPTIC
DEBILITATE
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
The pilot was culpable of complacency. After a cursory look at the
cryptic controls of the German jet he tried to fly it. His dumb actions
debilitated members of the ground crew.
SIMPLE VERSION:
The pilot was guilty of carelessness. After a hasty look at the
mysterious controls of the German jet he tried to fly it. His dumb actions
injured members of the ground crew.
PARAPHRASE:
The pilot’s negligence caused injuries. He tried to fly the German
Jet with only a quick look at its complicated controls.
NEW VOCABULARY STORY 18
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
DIFFUSE
HINDER
DIDACTIC
HIERARCHY
DEVISE
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
The diffuse population in rural areas has hindered didactic
programs. The educational hierarchy has devised methods like busing
to overcome this.
SIMPLE VERSION:
The spread out population in rural areas has hampered school
programs. The educational big shots has thought up methods like busing
to overcome this.
PARAPHRASE:
Rural areas have people spread out making schools hard to get to.
The educrats have kids bused to overcome this problem.
NEW VOCABULARY STORY 12
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
NEBULOUS
NARRATIVE
NAIVETE
COMPREHENSIVE
NEFARIOUS
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
George Orwell’s Animal Farm starts as a nebulous narrative with a kind of naivete but becomes a comprehensive description of a state’s
nefarious nature.
SIMPLE VERSION:
George Orwell’s Animal Farm starts s a dream-like story with a
childish simplicity but become a complete description of a state’s
wickedness.
PARAPHRASE:
Animal Farm is written as a child’s fable but gives a powerful
portrait of evil.
NEW VOCABULARY STORY 13
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
ACCLAIM
EXEMPLARY
ACCESSIBLE
ACCOMMODATION
ACKNOWLEDGE
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
New York City won acclaim as an exemplary accessible city, offering
accommodation to immigrants but the Mayor has acknowledged that we are
full now.
SIMPLE VERSION:
New York City won praise as an model welcoming city, offering
shelter to immigrants but the Mayor has admitted that we are
full now.
PARAPHRASE:
New York City is proud of being a sanctuary city, giving shelter
to newcomers but the Mayor now admits we are full now.
NEW VOCABULARY STORY 19
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
digression
cliche
founder
dilemma
friction
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
Older American textbooks have digressions into cliches praising
the founders. Newer ones talk about their dilemma: the friction between a bankrupt righteous England looking to recover money spent in a war to protect the colonies and America which did not want to pay even a penny.
SIMPLE VERSION:
Older American textbooks have departures into trite praise of
the founders. Newer ones talk about their problem: the conflict between a bankrupt righteous England looking to recover money spent in a war to protect the colonies and America which did not want to pay even a penny.
PARAPHRASE:
Older American textbooks spend time giving standard praise to the founders; as if they acted in a vacuum for noble causes. Newer ones look at the reality of their situation: England needed to recover money spent on protecting them and that was reasonable and they unreasonable did not want o pay.
NEW VOCABULARY STORY 35 Do Now
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
eminent
lavish
expedite
nuance
appropriate
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
Eminent researchers carry on lavish experiments to find appropriate
nuances to expedite the production of products.
SIMPLE VERSION:
Renowned researchers carry on elaborate experiments to find the right subtle changes to speed the production of products.
PARAPHRASE:
Famous scientists are hired to find ways to produce products faster.
NEW VOCABULARY STORY 34 Do Now
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
elated
application
elicit
likelihood
apathy
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
Each year elated graduates make their application to the police
department, but their is a high likelihood that they will have to
answer questions meant to elicit details about their drug use. Many
youths have had apathy about it, never thinking it would ruin their
chance of appointment.
SIMPLE VERSION:
Each year thrilled graduates make out their paper work to join the police department, but their is a high chance that they will have to
answer questions meant to obtain details about their drug use. Many
youths have been unconcerned about it, never thinking it would ruin their chance of getting the job.
PARAPHRASE:
When youths try to join the police, they get flagged for their prior
drug use which they had thought was harmless before.
NEW VOCABULARY STORY 23 Do Now
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
discerning
doctrine
malleable
gratify
divergent
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
Discerning historians have noticed the doctrine of the Church
is malleable to gratify divergent groups through history.
SIMPLE VERSION:
Insightful historians have noticed the ideas of the Church
can change to satisfy the needs of very different people through history.
PARAPHRASE:
The Church’s ideas are flexible and have been interpreted differently to met the needs of widely different groups.
NEW VOCABULARY STORY 21 Do Now
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
BENEVOLENT
PRUDENT
METICULOUS
RECTIFY
CONTENTION
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
William Tyndale was benevolent and prudent in his meticulous
translation of the Bible to rectify errors in previous translations
into English. However; it only caused contention and he was unbelievably
burnt at the stake for his efforts.
SIMPLE VERSION:
William Tyndale was well-meaning and wise in his painstaking
translation of the Bible to correct errors in previous translations
into English. However; it only caused conflict and he was unbelievably
burnt at the stake for his efforts.
PARAPHRASE:
William Tyndale carefully translated the bible with good intentions
but it caused controversy and he was unbelievably executed for his work.
NEW VOCABULARY STORY 22 Do Now
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
appreciate
apprehension
coherence
cohesion
collaborate
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
Businessmen appreciate the possibility of bankrupcy.
This apprehension cause coherence of all members to collaborate
toward success. This cohesion is a cornerstone of capitalism.
SIMPLE VERSION:
Businessmen realize the possibility of bankrupcy.
This fear cause unity of all members to work together
toward success. This union is a cornerstone of capitalism.
PARAPHRASE:
Businesses under capitalism compete to stay in existance. This fear
unites people to work together and makes better products and services.
New vocabulary story 3
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
PLAUSIBLE
POLARIZE
OMINOUS
DEBUNK
PLACATE
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
There are many plausible ominous theories about the Kennedy
Assassination that have polarized American society ever since 1963.
To placate conspiracy theorists and debunk their ideas, many government
documents have been declassified.
SIMPLIFIED STORY:
There are many believable alarming theories about the Kennedy
Assassination that have torn American society ever since 1963.
To calm conspiracy theorists and discredit their ideas, many government
documents have been declassified.
PARAPHRASE:
The Kennedy Assassination has been controversial ever since it happened in 1963. There are shocking theories that many people believe. Government
documents have been declassified in an attempt to disprove many of these
ideas and satisfy critics.
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
DISPUTATIOUS
GUILE
DELINEATED
DELETERIOUS
GULLIBLE
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
The disputatious salesman by guile delineated the
deleterious properties of his competitor’s products
to his gullible clients,
SIMPLIFIED STORY:
The argumentative salesman craftily outlined the
harmful properties of his competitor’s products
to his naive clients.
PARAPHRASE:
The salesman could argue. He liked to play with his customers
by listing the bad effects of products sold by other companies.
many people readily believed him.
New vocabulary story 6
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
FEASIBLE
COMPILE
FLUCTUATE
FIGURATIVE
FLAGRANT
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
When it became feasible to compile data on how
train car temperatures fluctuate, it was found they are
figuratively hot as hell in the summer and cold as ice in the winter.
This was due to the flagrant disregard for passenger comfort.
SIMPLIFIED STORY:
When it became possible to collect data on how
train car temperatures change, it was found they are
literally hot as hell in the summer and cold as ice in the winter.
This was due to the complete disregard for passenger comfort.
PARAPHRASE:
It became possible to collect data on train car temperatures.
Very unacceptable levels were found which varied widely with the seasons.
It showed that the train company did not care about the passenger’s
comfort at all.
New vocabulary story 7
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
EDIFY
ECONOMY
INDEFATIGABLE
INDICATIVE
EGOTISM
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
Bad times may have the power to edify, but it is important to
realize the economy is indefatigable indicative of the egotism it
is built on.
SIMPLIFIED STORY:
Bad times may have the power to build morality, but it is important to
realize the financial system is untiring showing it is based on people’s
sense of self importance.
PARAPHRASE:
Bad times may create spirituality, but you have to admit the world
of money and business will always rebound because it is based on greed.
New vocabulary story 8
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
INCLUSIVE
INCISIVE
INCIDENTAL
INCITE
INCOMPATIBILITY
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
It is now the policy to be inclusive. But a wise man made this incisive
observation: Even incidental differences can incite trouble, causing
incompatibility.
SIMPLE VERSION:
It is now standard practice to include different people in groups.
But a wise man made this cutting comment: Even minor differences can start
trouble, causing people not to work together properly.
PARAPHRASE:
The practice of mixing people with difference is doomed to failure
according to a wise observer. He devastatingly said even little things
can be the basis of fighting and the inability to work together.
New vocabulary Story 9
CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?:
ADVERSARY
ADHERENT
ADROIT
ADOPT
AVERSE
MY VOCABULARY STORY:
His adversary was an adherent to yoga which he said made him adroit.
He adopted a vegetarian diet and was adverse to meat.
SIMPLE VERSION:
His opponent was an follower of yoga which he said made him resourceful.
He took up a vegetarian diet and was against eating meat.
PARAPHRASE:
The person he was against did yoga and ate a strict vegetarian diet.
He claimed it helped him cope better.
Vocabulary Word Version:
The inadvertent misconception made by the casino in its ads that its
spa facilities are a free compliment to people checked into its hotel
rooms was decried by people when they went to the spa and were
told there is a $100 dollar entrance charge even to those in the hotel.
Simplified Version:
The unintentional impression made by the casino in its ads that its
spa amenities are a free addition to people checked into its hotel
rooms was disapproved of by people when they went to the spa and were
told there is a $100 entrance charge even to those in the hotel.
Paraphrase: The casino ran an ad showing its spa. It made it look like
this was part of the deal when you went there and got a room. This
was not done on purpose. People complained when they went to the
spa and were told there is an additional $100 dollar entrance fee even to those in the hotel.
VOCABULARY STORY:
Discerning people enumerated the discordant amounts of actual
discounts disclosed in a court case and the promised discounts
in deceptive ads by a cruise ship company.
SIMPLIFIED STORY:
Alert people listed the different amounts of actual reductions in prices revealed in a court case and the promised cuts in tricky ads
by a cruise ship company.
PARAPHRASE:
A court case was brought against a cruise ship company. It was
claimed that it was wrongfully offering lower prices that it did not
honor. Those following the story closely counted all the difference
in the advertised prices and the actual prices charged.
WHY AM I WRITING MORE VOCABULARY STORIES:
I am embarking on writing yet more vocabulary stories; I already
have 1000 similar stories on TES. So, I should explain the reasons for
offering these to you:
My common word stories are a flop. Not many people want those.
But many people have looked at and have downloaded my fancy vocabulary stories.
(It is a thrill to see my work go all around the world!)
There is a continuing desire for fancy vocabulary learning; these
words have earned their way in the world! It also seems that
certain subjects attract interest in themselves.
The new format with 5 words is quick, easy and clear.
WHAT THESE STORIES CAN BE USED FOR:
Vocabulary words can be used for do nows. You can challenge students
or yourself to make A story out of 5 fancy words. It is easy and
gets easier with practice.
Paraphrasing stories, makes it clear that you know what the words mean.
Short interesting stories can delightfully made by cleaver minds. There
can be different takes on the same set of words.
You can add a paraphrase to rephrase the ideas to make the story
clearer; not stilted by the need to get words used.
I feel energized to write these stories.
Words are flexible enough to serve as a medium to express ideas
I am currently thinking about. For example; I really went to a casino
spa that was shockingly charging $100 dollars extra to its hotel guests; this
found itself into story 1.
I hope you use my word sets and stories to improve your vocabulary and thinking - to keep your gray matter in the pink, along with me.
Paul Skittone