Chapters 1 and 2

 

decorous, speculate, devour, officious, tumult,

 

When was the last time you were complimented for your decorous behavior? Where were you and what did you do or refrain from doing?

 

Describe a situation in which it is a bad idea to speculate about something.

 

What will happen to you if you devour your food all of the time? What do you suggest instead?

 

Unscramble this word that is a good antonym to “officious.”

 

 

 

Unscramble the word that completes the sentence.

 

The ___ at the football game made quite a tumult.

 

 

 

Chapters 3 and 4

oppressive, inscrutable, preposterous, irrelevance, shrill

 

In what country are women still faced with an oppressive political environment? What should they do about it?

 

What subject in school do you find most inscrutable? What can you do to make the study of it more coherent?

 

What do you consider a preposterous allowance for a 10 year old boy? What would you consider appropriate?

 

Unscramble the word that is a good antonym for “shrill.”

 

 

Unscramble the word that completes the sentence.

That which is irrelevant is _________.

 

 

 

 

Chapters 5 and 6

obscure, jeer, formulate, inarticulate, relentless

 

If a journalist’s references were obscure, do you think the printed material should be censored until the source is proven more reliable?

 

Have you ever had anyone jeer at you? What did that feel like?

 

What do you know of Einstein’s formulated theory of relativity?

 

Unscramble the word that is a good antonym for “inarticulate.”

 

 

 

Unscramble the word that is a good synonym for “relentless.”

 

 

Chapters 7 and 8

 

covert, blunder, uproarious, iridescent, vex,

 

Do you like iridescent clothing? Do you prefer changeable, prismatic styles to primary colors?

 

What was the worst blunder you made last year? What did you do to correct it?

 

Do you think puns are corny or uproariously funny? Tell us the funniest pun you know.

 

Unscramble the word that is the an effective antonym for “covert.”

 

 

What vexes you more : people who talk during movies, or people who talk while the teacher is trying to teach? Why?

 

 

Chapters 9 and 10

 

tremulous, steadfast, gesticulate, twitch, stifle

 

Which of these would make you tremulous – snakes, spiders, or scorpions?

 

Who is your most steadfast friend? What is this person’s best quality?

 

Who among your teachers gesticulates the most when speaking?

 

Unscramble the word that is an effective antonym for “stifle.”

 

 

Aside from a nervous twitch, what are some other physical indications that someone may be lying?

 

 

Chapters 11 and 12

multitudinous, incantation, elaborate, undulation, cower

 

Name three countries with a multitudinous population.

 

What Shakespearean quote might you use as an example of a witch’s incantation?

 

Tell us your favorite color. Then elaborate.

 

Unscramble the word that completes the definition –

Undulation is a ____ form, outline, or appearance.

 

 

 

When I was little, the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz caused me to cower behind the sofa. What movie comes the closest to making you cower?