"By words the mind is excited and the spirit elated."
Aristophanes, The Birds
Words to Learn This Week
exaggerate
amateur
mediocre
variety
valid
survive
weird
prominent
security
bulky
reluctant
obvious
Read the following story to see how the new words are used in it.
The Guitar
It is impossible to exaggerate the popularity of the guitar. One out of every four amateur musicians in the United States plays the guitar. Even a mediocre player can produce a variety of music with this unique instrument. Trying to find valid reasons for the guitar's ability to survive through the years isn't hard. One weird theory by a prominent musician states that guitarists find security hiding behind the bulky instrument. But most people are reluctant to accept this idea because there are more obvious reasons for playing a guitar. It can be carried anywhere, it is inexpensive to buy, a only a few lessons are required to learn to play it well.
Place one of the new words in each of the blanks below.
1.Most people agreed that he was a _weird___________ looking man because of the long red beard.
2.Chuck's reason for quitting his job was __valid_________ ; he was not being paid.
3.The answer to the question was so _obvious___________that everyone knew it.
4.The _mediocre___________tennis player would never make the Olympic squad.
5.She was _reluctant__________ to take on any more responsibilities at work.
6.People often tend to __exaggerate_________ stories they hear.
7.The bank is kept under very tight ___security________ .
8.Because the box was so __bulky_________ , it took two men to lift it.
9.Even though he was not a professional, the __amateur__________ photographer entered the contest.
10.A wide variety_________ of shows is playing at the concert hall.
11.Mrs. Meyers is a __prominent________ member of the staff.
12.We all hoped that the small boat would ___survive________ the storm.
Matching
Match the 12 new words in Column I with the definitions in Column II.
Column I
1. reluctant
2. mediocre
3. prominent
4. obvious
5. exaggerate
6. bulky
7. variety
8. valid
9. security
10. survive
11. weird
12. amateur
Column II
a. large; taking up much space
b. true; supported by facts
c. person who does something for pleasure, not as a profession
d. average; ordinary
e. mysterious; unearthly
f. unwilling
g. easily seen or understood
h. well-known; important
i. remain alive; live on
j. overstate; make something greater than it is
k.feeling or condition of being safe
l.a number of different things
