WHY VOCABULARY STORIES WITH A PARAPHRASED VERSION ARE USEFUL. I am writing these stories so you can paraphrase them. It makes vocabulary learning an active process. What does “presumptuous” mean? When fit into a story, in context; what would be a good replacement for it, into simpler language perhaps. So, my stories are just a chance to give you the opportunity to think of elegant translation words. We continually do this as we gauge our audiences. We want to use big words yet be understood. Sometimes “big” words take a few words to replace them. Words have shades of meaning. My inspiration was a recent translation of Beowulf from Old English. The translation had to have the flair of the original (using wimpy Modern English?); perhaps a looser translation is more appropriate? The Bible translators too, strain to get the meaning of the original; it is a real challenge and debate with bigger stakes. So, beyond the topics, which can be interesting; these stories challenge you to go to your dictionaries to find the right fit to say the same thing. I give my translation (answer) to each story. This could be a daily exercise like a crossword puzzle in the newspapers. I know it’s good for me. So, look at them anew with this in mind. Paul Skittone

VOCABULARY STORY 101 WHAT DID BAD KING JOHN DO? King John was hated and it was warranted. It was perpetuated because he was remote and taciturn. He perfunctorily ratified bad laws made by his henchmen. His predecessor, King William; had been civil and loved, belying the claim that all Kings are bad. King John was hated and it was justified. It was kept going because he was distant and uncommunicative. He casually passed bad laws made by his henchmen. The prior, King William; had been polite and loved, contradicting the claim that all Kings are bad.

VOCABULARY STORY 100 WHAT WAS THE MEDICINE OF BYGONE DAYS WAS LIKE The precursor of today's medicine had equivocal results.It sometines debilitated and impaired more than nothing at all. To exonerate doctors of that era, it was done without enmity or hypocrisy; it was ignorance. Doctors had the fruits of materialism, eloquence and respect. They elicited symptoms and did their thing. The forunners of today's medicine had doubtful results.It sometines crippled and damaged more than nothing at all. To clear from blame doctors of that era, it was done without spite or knowingly; it was lack of knowledge. Doctors had the fruits of wealth, good speech and respect. They asked about symptoms and did their thing.

VOCABULARY STORY 99 HOW HITLER WON LOYALTY IN 1930’S GERMANY Historians try to elucidate the fanaticism of 1930's Germany. At that time, the German population was more homogeneous than today. Hitler was able to exploit material difficulties. He said he would give equitable distribution of resources to enhance people’s lives. An expository implication is that gratifying the belly generates loyalty. Historians try to explain the extremism of 1930's Germany. At that time, the German population was more uniform than today. Hitler was able to use material difficulties. He said he would give fair distribution of resources to better people’s lives. An explanatory connection is that satisfying the belly generates loyalty.

VOCABULARY STORY 98 CONDITIONS BEFORE WW2 People have speculated about spurious ideas about conditions before WW2. The basics: The German Army was at a magnitude to intimidate its neighbors. It marred prospects for peace. There were transparent threats devised to create panic from a deranged Hitler. A comprehensive rebuttal was made but to no avail. People have pondered about wrong ideas about conditions before WW2. The basics: The German Army was at a greatness to threaten its neighbors. It spoiled chances for peace. There were clear threats made to create fear from a crazed Hitler. Thorough answers were made all to no use.

VOCABULARY STORY 97 HOW DID THE ROMAN EMPIRE START? Agustus Ceasar was charismstic and adroit. He was irreproacable. People had deference for him as a savior of Rome. He augmented the Empire, giving accommodation to its mechanisms. People snapped into compliance with it. It was nothing abstract but a natural reaction to the violence and chaos of the Late Republic. However, there was a smoldering animosity and lament for the loss of democracy as Augustus was all but a dictator. Augustus Caesar was charming and skillful. He was faultless. People had respect for him as a savior of Rome. He setup the Empire, giving space to its mechanisms. People snapped into obedience to it. It was nothing mysterious but a natural reaction to the violence and chaos of the Late Republic. However, there was a smoldering resentment and sorrow for the loss of democracy as Augustus was all but a dictator.

VOCABULARY STORY 96 WHAT MAXWELL DID SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: Maxwell enumerated the properties of electromagnetic waves in expository talks. He was renounced and denounced as a purveyor of fallacious ideas. (Critics never capitulate; having a capacity for badness.). It could have been his low class. Maxwell was a catalyst for others. He lived to be gratified by discoveries in sync with his theories. He now is held in distinction in the annals of science. Maxwell listed the properties of electromagnetic waves in explanitory talks. He was disowned and condemned as a peddler of false ideas. (Critics never give up; having a ability for badness.). It could have been his low class. Maxwell was a stimulator of others. He lived to be satisfied by discoveries in line with his theories. He now is held in honor in the halls of science.

VOCABULARY STORY 95 THE PROBLEMS OF THE WW2 SOLDIER SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: Those in contention in WW2 were in a dilemma. Infantry soldier had to be circumspect. In the colloquial: watch their ass. Problems proliferate until you falter. It is incompatible with staying alive. Bad weather exacerbates your misery. The likelihood of surviving is uncertain. You decry your situation for a laugh. Those in conflict in WW2 were in a problem. Infantry soldier had to be looking all around. In the common tongue: watch your ass. Problems crop up until you stumble. It is unsuited to staying alive. Bad weather worsens your misery. The chances of surviving are uncertain. You criticize your situation for a laugh.

VOCABULARY STORY 95 THE FIGHT FOR GUADALCANAL SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: The contention for Guadalcanal is an obscure part of WW2 history. The Japanese tried a meticulous bombardment calculated to get US troops to falter. The American general was a zealot with integrity and guts. In a pithy history meant to rectify many misunderstandings of the battle, veterans of the conflict tell all with candor. The conflict for Guadalcanal is a clouded part of WW2 history. The Japanese tried a systematic bombardment designed to get US troops to waver. The American general was a patriot with honor and grit. In a concise history meant to put straight many wrong ideas of the battle, veterans of the campaign tell all with frank honesty.

VOCABULARY STORY 94 WHAT PROBLEMS DID THE PLYMOUTH COLONY HAVE? SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: It’s a cliche the founders of the Plymouth colony has a smooth time. They had a medium amount of trouble stemming from dissent. Explicitly discordant incidents arose bolstered by hunger and contact with the Indians. The leaders had a disinclination to engage in controversy and took questionable measures to appease people. It’s a fable the establishers of the Plymouth colony has a smooth time. They had a bit of trouble arising from disagreements. Clearly out of step events arose, fueled by hunger and contact with the Indians. The leaders did not want to get involved with arguments and took doubtful steps to keep people happy.

VOCABULARY STORY 93 GETTING THE BIBLE INTO ORDER SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: Discerning scholars found it feasible to collaborate to take the divergent material in the Bible and devise a coherent narrative. This was presented without guile. The Bible has flagrant examples of violence and mundane digressions into various stories. Insightful scholars found it possible to work together to take the different material in the Bible and make a narrative that sticks together. This was presented with honesty. The Bible has outright examples of violence and ho hum wanderings into various stories.

VOCABULARY STORY 92 A BARBARIAN FINDS CHRIST SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: The proliferation of crime was a contentious matter of utmost gravity in the falling Roman Empire. Walking in the street was ominous with gratuitous murder common. An elated barbarian convert became censorious of all this. He denouced his former life. He denounced violence in an elaborate speech right in the forum. The spread of crime was a hotly debated matter of great seriousness in the falling Roman Empire. Walking in the street was frightening with randomly done murder common. An thrilled barbarian convert became disapproving of all this. He rejected his former life. He reviled violence in an long detailed speech right in the forum.

VOCABULARY STORY 91 CRISIS IN PHILADELPHIA 1776 SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: The Constitutional Convention members complimented each other. Some where amorphous followers and afraid but there was a symmetry with patriots who were brave but unstable. The implied objective that summer was to make a resolution, an affirmation of independence from England. Events intervened. They were inundated by news of the war’s beginning in Boston. This amplified and compounded their apprehensions. The Constitutional Convention members matched each other. Some where shapeless followers and afraid but they were countered by patriots who were brave but unstable. The understood goal that summer was to make an agreement, an declaration of independence from England. Events interrupted them. They were swamped by news of the war’s beginning in Boston. This intensified and added to their apprehensions.

VOCABULARY STORY 90 WHY THE TITANIC SANK SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: There were many seemingly innocuous things that contributed to the Titanic disaster. Opportunities were squandered that impeded the ship’s survival. Inherent things, like the use of low quality rivets. Many were dubious about the ship’s safety. In the trial, the builder made many digressions; guile that prompted many discordant voices. There were many seemingly harmless things that contributed to the Titanic disaster. Chances were wasted that held back the ship’s survival. Built-in things, like the use of low quality rivets. Many were doubtful about the ship’s safety. In the trial, the builder side-tracked; trickery that stirred up many angry voices.

VOCABULARY STORY 89 THE EQUALITY OF A FALLEN ROME SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: Historian try to substantiate what happened when Rome fell. The discrepancy between before and after was great. It was analogous to day and night. As the economy atrophied, the material to gratify basic needs dried up. It was equitable: everyone was poor! Tentative steps were made to facilitate an enhanced circumstance. Historian try to get evidence for what happened when Rome fell. The difference between before and after was great. It was like day and night. As the economy withered, the material to satisfy basic needs dried up. It was equality: everyone was poor! Faltering steps were made to bring about an improved situation.

VOCABULARY STORY 88 TESLA’S GREAT GIFT TO HUMANITY SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: Tesla was a hardy man of giant cerebral power. He had a kind of detachment. His innovations produced graphic progress in the fields of electricity and motive power. When given a document surrendering his royalties (worth trillions) he did not vacillate. He acquiesced to ratify the deal! Was he discerning, wanting to bring in the modern world? Tesla was a health man of giant intellectual power. He had a kind of remoteness. His inventions produced striking progress in the fields of electricity and motive power. When given a paper surrendering his royalties (worth trillions) he did not hesitate. He agreed to sign the deal! Was he far seeing, wanting to bring in the modern world?

VOCABULARY STORY 87 HOW TO BE A GREAT BOXER SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: Rocky Marciano had an irreproachable reputation as a boxer. People showed great deference to him inside and outside the ring. He augmented his great native talent with rigorous training in compliance with boxing theories. He listened to the pedantic advice of an old coach. He was adroit in the ring. Some partisans say arbitrary deleterious things about his style but he was undefeated. People lamented his early death. Rocky Marciano had a faultless reputation as a boxer. People showed great respect for him inside and outside the ring. He boosted his great native talent with strenuous training in line with boxing theories. He listened to the abstruse advice of an old coach. He was quick in the ring. Some biased observers say random bad things about his style but he was undefeated. People mourned his early death.

VOCABULARY STORY 86 WHY THE PILGRIMS CAME TO AMERICA SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: The Pilgrims colony in America stems from a benevolent solution. Pilgrims were accused of heresy in England. The devious official church had priests who only qualified by allegiance to the King and his ideas. Opportunists were among them. The persecution fluctuated, it got worse then subsided. The Pilgrims could not live with the assertions against them and fled to Holland and then America. The Pilgrims colony in America originated from a friendly solution. Pilgrims were charged with improper in England. The crooked official church had priests who only eligible by loyalty to the King and his ideas. People taking advantage were among them. The harassment varied, it got worse then cooled down. The Pilgrims could not live with the charges against them and fled to Holland and then America.

VOCABULARY STORY 85 HOW EINSTEIN ACTED SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: Einstein was cerebral and charismatic but also a skeptic and circumspect. To cite one example: Late in life, to mollify and mitigate requests of disputatious censorious people wanting him to support their iffy causes, he hesitated and delayed. That he was a communist has been debunked. Einstein was brainy and charming but also a cynic and cautious. To give one example: Late in life, to appease and lessen requests of argumentative fault-finding people wanting him to support their iffy causes, he checked himself and waited. That he was a communist has been disproved.

VOCABULARY STORY 84 FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT WAS NOT PERFECT SEE IF YOU CAN PARAPHRASE MY STORY: Franklin Roosevelt won acclaim as a paragon of presidents, so it is a paradox that assertions of serious wrong doing have been made. (it is naivete to think anyone is perfect). He intervened against pacifist congressmen to intimidate and censure them. Franklin Roosevelt won praise as a model of presidents, so it is puzzling that accusations of serious wrong doing have been made. (it is simple-minded to think anyone is perfect). He got involved against congressmen who preferred peace to threated and reprimand them.