Vocab 9

1. abridge- v. to shorten the number of words, to condense

2. emendation- n. a correction, a change in a written text

3. finality- n. the quality or condition of being complete or settled; conclusiveness

4. garrulous- adj. talking too much, especially about unimportant things

5. impromptu- adj. without previous thought or preparation; spontaneous

6. invoke- v. to call upon a higher power for assistance; to ask or appeal for; to call forth

7. shrew- n. a mouselike animal that eats insects; a bad-tempered, nagging woman

8. supercilious- adj. showing scorn and haughtiness; disdainful, aloof or conceited

9. verbose- adj. wordy; using or containing more words than necessary

10. lucrative- adj. profitable; producing money or wealth

Pattern L: S V; S V

This pattern contains two complete thoughts joined by a semicolon. Use this pattern to show how closely connected the two thoughts are.

Ex.: Mr. Brush enjoys painting; Ms. Clay thoroughly dislikes it.

Pattern M: S V; Conjunctive Adverb, S V

A conjunctive adverb joins two independent clauses to show results, contrast, time, or additional information. In this pattern, the clauses must have a very close relationship. The following are some common conjunctive adverbs:

therefore, consequently, as a result, thus, accordingly, however,

nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, moreover,

furthermore, in addition, meanwhile, at any rate, after all

Ex.: The application was lost in the mail; consequently, the man was never granted an interview with the company.

Vocab 9 Practice Quiz

  1. One day in the cafeteria, you overhear two students having a casual, ______discussion about a Chinese folk tale they read in class.

2. You’re curious when you hear that there are two different versions of the story. You wonder if one shorter version has been ______from the original.

3. Comparing the stories, the students have discovered a few ______to the second version, but the changes are minor.

4. Most people are______at lunch and chat nonstop about trivial things.

5. The story is interesting because it ______the legend of Mu Lan, a Chinese woman who disguised herself as a man and earned fame as a warrior.

6. According to legend, Mu Lan was respected, not because she was a bad-tempered ______, but because she was a brave, admirable woman.

7. One student is impressed with Mu Lan, but the other seems ______about the character’s efforts. “Why go to all that trouble to become a soldier?” she asks scornfully.

8. The other student jokes, “Maybe she needed some money-being a famous warrior was probably a ______job.”

9. You don’t really mean to eavesdrop, but the students are so ______that you can’t help but pick up a few of their remarks.

10. You’re about to ask a question, but the conversation has an air of ______as the students finish their lunch. You’ll have to read the story for yourself to find an answer.

Sentence Patterns

11. Write an original sentence for Pattern L SV;SV using one vocabulary word.

12. Write an original sentence for Pattern M SV; conjunctive adverb, SV using one vocabulary word.

Vocab 9 Practice Answer Key

  1. impromptu
  2. abridged

3. emendations

  1. garrulous

5. invokes

6. shrew

7. supercilious

8. lucrative

9. verbose

  1. finality