Unit 3

Teacher Notes

1. evaluate – v – to judge how good, useful, or successful someone or something is

  • At the end of the semester, the students will be asked to evaluate the class. They will be asked to say if they thought the class was helpful, if they were satisfied with the instruction, etc.
  • Before class started, we gave all the students several reading tests. Then we evaluated the test results to see what the students already knew and what they needed to learn.
  • (noun form) When my boss came to observe my class she gave me a good evaluation.

2. analysis – the careful examination of something in order to understand it better

  • I had to have a blood sample sent to the lab for analysis. The lab technicians looked at the blood to try to figure out what disease I had.
  • After a careful analysis of all the data, the scientist reported that she had discovered a new kind of dinosaur.
  • (verb form) Before I make a decision, I have to analyze the problem. I have to look at all sides of the problem to try to understand it well.

3. similar – adj – almost the same but not exactly the same

synonym = alike

antonym = dissimilar, unalike

  • My friend and I have similar taste in music. We both like classical music, though she prefers violin and I prefer piano music.
  • I liked the color of my sister’s kitchen, so I painted my kitchen a similar color.
  • All the kids in my family look similar because we all have red hair and freckles.

4. establish – v – to start something such as a company, situation, etc.

  • The school in my town was established in 1913.
  • My husband is going to establish a new company next year if he can get a loan from the bank.

5. distribute – v – to give something such as food or medicine to each person in a large group

  • After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the Red Cross distributed food and medicine to people who lost their homes in the flood.
  • Sometimes in class I ask students to help me distribute handouts or books to the other students.

6. aspect – n – one part of a situation, plan or subject

  • The senators and representatives discussed many aspects of the financial crisis.
  • Parents often see different aspects of a situation than their children do.

Unit 3 Teacher Notes continued

7. perceive – v – to understand or think about something in a particular way

  • Everyone perceived that their marriage was in trouble because they were always having big arguments.
  • It is difficult to perceive how the war in Iraq will end.

8. tradition – n – something that people have done for a long time and continue to do

  • The U.S. has a long tradition of welcoming immigrants.
  • (adjective form) In my family, lasagna is the traditional dinner for New Year’s Eve.

9. correspond – v – if two things correspond, they are similar to each other or relate to each other

  • The name on the envelope doesn’t correspond with the name on the letter inside.
  • (adjective form) After I worked in my position for two years, I got a promotion and a corresponding increase in salary.
  • When I traveled in Europe, I found that the plug on my hair dryer didn’t correspond to the outlets they have in Europe. The electricity is different.

10. reaction – something you do in response to something that happened

  • My first reaction to the movie was negative, but after I saw it again a few years later I liked it better.
  • (verb form) The audience reacted to the comedian’s performance with laughter and cheers.

The words on this list were taken from sublists one, two and three of the Academic Word List,

Matching Activity

1. ______to judge how good someone or something is (evaluate)

2. ______the careful examination of something in order understand it

better (analysis)

3. ______one part of a situation, plan or subject (aspect)

4. ______almost the same but not exactly the same (similar)

5. ______to give something (distribute)

6. ______to start something (establish)

7. ______when things are similar and relate to each other

(correspondence)

8. ______understand something in a particular way(perceive)

9. ______something you do when responding to something that

happened(reaction)

10. ______something people do and have done for a long time(tradition)

Unit 3

Fill in the Blank Activity

  1. When a class is over, you ______the course and think about whether it was helpful to you or not. (evaluate)
  2. The mechanic put my car on the computer for ______to see why the engine kept stalling. (analysis)
  3. My dogs look ______since they are both are black with brown spots. (similar)
  4. The Chicago Cubs were ______as a baseball team in the early 1900’s. (established)
  5. The Food Pantry ______food to those in need.(distributes)
  6. We need to know all the ______of the financial rescue plan in order to understand it. (aspects)
  7. The result of theelectiondepends on the voters’ ______to the candidate’s ideas. (reactions)
  8. The ______he brought with him from Mexico were different from those of his neighbors. (traditions)
  9. When we saw the damaged houses, we quickly ______that a tornado had just struck. (perceived)
  10. When I moved from Miami to Chicago, I had to buy clothes that ______to the cold winter weather conditions. (corresponded)

Fill in the Blanks Activity

  1. The ______the scientist used to understand the findings in her second experiment was ______to what she used in her first experiment. (analysis, similar)
  2. Before deciding on treatment, doctors have to ______all the ______of their patients’ health. (evaluate, aspects)
  3. The Red Cross was ______to ______aid in emergencies. (established, distribute)
  4. ______in one country sometimes ______to celebrations in another country. (traditions, correspond)
  5. The government did not correctly ______the public’s negative ______to the war. (perceive, reaction)

Unit 3

Matching Activity

Directions: Listed below is a definition for each word. Write each word next to its definition.

1. ______to judge how good someone or something is

2. ______the careful examination of something in order to understand it better

3. ______one part of a situation, plan or subject

4. ______almost the same but not exactly the same

5. ______to give something

6. ______to start something

7. ______when things are similar and relate to each other

8. ______understand something in a particular way

9. ______something you do when responding to something

that happened

10. ______something people do and have done for a long time

Unit 3

Fill in the Blank Activity

Directions: Fill in a word from the list to complete each sentence. Each word can be used only once.

  1. When a class is over, you ______the course and think about whether it was helpful to you or not.
  1. The mechanic put my car on the computer for ______to see why the engine kept stalling.
  1. My dogs look ______since they are both are black with brown spots.
  1. The Chicago Cubs were ______as a baseball team in the early 1900’s.
  1. The Food Pantry ______food to those in need.
  1. We need to know all the ______of the financial rescue plan in order to understand it.
  1. The result of theelectiondepends on the voters’ ______to the candidate’s ideas.
  1. The ______he brought with him from Mexico were different from those of his neighbors.
  1. When we saw the damaged houses, we quickly ______that a tornado had just struck.
  1. When I moved from Miami to Chicago, I had to buy clothes that ______to the cold winter weather conditions.

Unit 3

Fill in the Blanks Activity

Directions: Fill in two words to complete each sentence. Each word can only be used once.

  1. The ______the scientist used to understand the findings in her second experiment was ______to what she used in her first experiment.
  1. Before deciding on treatment, doctors have to ______all the ______of their patients’ health.
  1. The Red Cross was ______to ______aid in emergencies.
  1. ______in one country sometimes ______to celebrations in another country.
  1. The government did not correctly ______the public’s negative ______to the war.

Unit 3

Sentence Completion Activity

Directions: Complete each sentence.

  1. A teacher’s evaluation of homework helps students______

______.

  1. When I analyze my budget, I ______

______.

  1. One way that my friend and I are similaris ______

______.

  1. I think we need to establish new laws for ______

______.

  1. In emergencies, the government should distribute______

______.

  1. One aspect of my job that bothers me is ______.
  1. It is sometimes difficult to perceive what another person is thinking because ______

______.

  1. A tradition in my family is ______

______.

  1. Quality education corresponds to ______

______.

  1. I react strongly when______

______.

Unit 3

True-False and Why Activity

Directions: Read each statement and decide if it’s true or false. Then tell why.

  1. Teachersevaluatestudents’ progress in class to learn why they have been absent from class.
  1. An analysis of a subject can be done to prove either a negative or a positive point of view.
  1. Twins will have similar interests in music and books.
  1. A law that was established 150 years ago is probably outdated.
  1. The viewpoints of Republicans and Democrats never correspond.
  1. When a lot of people are sick with a disease like measles, doctors should distribute immunizations and medicine slowly to people.
  1. A healthcare plan will be successful if a few aspects of the plan meet the needs of families.
  1. A common perception among teenagers is that adults are smart and interesting.
  1. Believing in Santa Claus is a dangeroustradition.
  1. People react to bad news with concern and worry.

Unit 3

Ideas for Writing Prompts

  1. Describe a special tradition in your family or culture.
  1. What do you perceive as the biggest threat to the US today?
  1. If you had to give away a million dollars, how would you distributeit, and why?

Unit 3

Yes-No and Why Activity

Directions: Answer each question with yes or no, then explain why.

  1. Can you always perceive how another person will react in a situation?
  1. Do all cultures have correspondingtraditions?
  1. Is it necessary to evaluate all aspects of a problem before you can find a solution?
  1. If two researchers do an analysis of data, will they reachsimilar conclusions?
  1. Should the government establish a way to distribute money to people who can’t pay their mortgages?

Illinois STAR Vocabulary Booster Workshop, AdultLearningResourceCenter, Arlington Heights, IL