VOCABULARY LESSON 19
STRENGTH AND DEFENSE
WORD LIST
buttress defensible durable fortify invigorate
potent quell recalcitrant resistant valor
The words in this lesson will help you describe defense and the strength that it sometimes requires.
· buttress – wall support
· The castle’s wall had heavy stone buttresses.
· defensible – capable of being protected
· Some towns are more easily defensible than others.
· durable – long-lasting
· The durable boots would withstand the worst weather conditions.
· fortify – to strengthen
· Before the hurricane, many homeowners fortified their windows with wood.
· invigorate – to give strength or fill with life
· A glass of ice cold water invigorated the runner after the race.
· potent - powerful
· The medicine was so potent that I felt better in one day.
· quell – to calm something
· Rehearsing his speech several times seemed to quell his fear of speaking.
· recalcitrant – stubbornly refusing or defiant
· The recalcitrant dog refused to fetch the ball.
· resistant - opposed
· The child was resistant to hold the hand of the stranger.
· valor - courage
· The General proved his valor in battle.
COMPLETE THE SENTENCE
Write the letter for the word that best completes each sentence.
___1. My dog’s toys need to be _____or they will immediately be destroyed.
a. buttressed b. invigorated c. durable d. quelled
___2. I bought a special camera for my vacation because it was _____to water.
a. durable b. potent c. fortified d. resistant
___3. Many old cathedrals and churches have strong _____ to strengthen them.
a. buttresses b. fortification c. potency d. valor
___4. The building was _____with steel beams.
a. resistant b. fortified c. invigorated d. defensible
___5. The jail was _____ inside and out by guards.
a. buttressed b. defensible c. potent d. recalcitrant
___6. Our argument was _____ by our grandmother’s entrance.
a. quelled b. resistant c. buttressed d. valored
___7. Young Arthur displayed _____when he pulled the sword from the stone.
a. invigoration b. resistance c. valor d. recalcitrance
___8. The lemonade was so _____that I was tasting lemons all day.
a. valiant b. defensible c. durable d. potent
___9. Sometimes my teenage sister is _____when she is grounded.
a. fortified b. invigorated c. quelled d. recalcitrant
___10. That long nap really _____ me.
a. quelled b. invigorated c. defended d. buttressed
WRITING RESPONSE
In one good paragraph (7-9 sentences), pretend you are an architect whose job is to design a structure for the President of the United States that will protect him as well as calm his fears of an attack, What will your structure include, and will it be sturdy enough to protect him??
Remember to write in cursive and to include 3 vocabulary words, underlined.
FIND THE EXAMPLE
Choose the answer that best describes the action or situation.
___1. Something that could invigorate you
a. wearing a coat b. a swim in the ocean c. eating an apple
___2. Something with a potent smell
a. a dandelion b. a skunk c. iced tea
___3. Something a mother would want to quell
a. a hysterical teenager b. a sleeping baby c. doing homework
___4. Something that is really durable
a. a lampshade b. a hardbound book c. ice cream
___5. You would most likely find buttresses on a
a. boat b. cathedral c. house
___6. Something a person of valor would possess
a. strength b. shyness c. bottled water
___7. A person who is afraid of heights would probably be resistant to
a. go dancing b. ride roller coasters c. water ski
___8. Something that fortifies a castle
a. a picket fence b. a moat c. an iron gate
WRITE THE DERIVATIVE
Complete the sentence by writing the correct form of the word shown in parentheses.
______1. Some feel that taking vitamins will increase your _____to getting sick. (resistant)
______2. Trucks are known for their _____ (durable)
______3. The _____of the pepper was apparent by her red face. (potent)
______4. The horse’s _____was obvious by his kicking and pulling. (recalcitrant)
______5. After so many days of rain, the sun was_____. (invigorate)