NEW VOCABULARY STORY 20 CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?: QUALIFIED ATTRIBUTE IMPECCABLE IMPEDE IMPAIR MY VOCABULARY STORY: Lincoln qualified as a lawyer. His folksy attributes did not impair his chances with country juries. Impeccable city lawyers had a style that impeded their ability to communicate with them. SIMPLE VERSION: Lincoln became as a lawyer. His folksy ways did not hurt his chances with country juries. Perfect city lawyers had a style that reduced their ability to communicate with them. PARAPHRASE: As a country lawyer, Lincoln had an advantage with juries because he acted more like the people that polished lawyers from the city.

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.

NEW VOCABULARY STORY 16 CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?: avert atrophy attribute augment autonomous MY VOCABULARY STORY: To avert muscle atrophy attributed to weighlessness, there is a strict exercise regimen augmented by autonomous additional exercises astronauts may do. SIMPLE VERSION: To prevent muscle wastage said to be caused by weighlesness, there is a strict exercise program in addition to self directed additional exercises astronauts may do. PARAPHRASE: To help stop muscle deterioration caused by being weighless, there are exercise programs in addition to other exercises astronauts can do by themselves.

NEW VOCABULARY STORY 16 CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?: deference contend consistency constrain quench MY VOCABULARY STORY: Cooks show deference and do not contend with the master chef on the consistency of sauces and constrain a need to quench their desire to experiment. SIMPLE VERSION: Cooks show respect for and do not argue with the master chef on the thickness of sauces and hold back a need to satisfy their desire to experiment. PARAPHRASE: Cooks do as their told by the master chef. His word goes on the thickness of sauces. Cooks have to control their desire to experiment.

NEW VOCABULARY STORY 14 CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?: ARTICULATE ACQUIESCE ACRID ACUTE ACRIMONIOUS MY VOCABULARY STORY: Stephen Crane was able to articulate a soldier’s life in the American Civil War. How troops acquiesced to marching through drill; the acid acute acrimonious conditions in a battle. SIMPLE VERSION: Stephen Crane was able to portray a soldier’s life in the American Civil War. How troops got used to marching through drill; the bitter extreme hostile conditions in a battle. PARAPHRASE: Stephen Crane wrote about soldiery in the Civil War. From marching drill to the fury of battles.

NEW VOCABULARY STORY 15 CAN YOU MAKE A STORY CONTAINING THESE FIVE WORDS?: assertion assiduous astute assumption assuage MY VOCABULARY STORY: Galileo’s assertion that the Earth goes around the Sun was based on assiduous astute observations. However; his assumption he would be believed was wrong. He should have payed more attention to assuaging the Pope. SIMPLE VERSION: Galileo’s claim that the Earth goes around the Sun was based on careful clever observations. However; his belief he would be believed was wrong. He should have payed more attention to calming down the Pope. PARAPHRASE: Galileo did careful smart experiments to show the earth goes around the sun, but he failed because he did not attend to the annoyance he caused to the Pope.

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 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.

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