Sunday, April 1, 2012

Vocab of the Day

Words from a P3 SA1 2011 test paper that I am giving you to do this evening.  Please learn them what are the meaning, so that you can do the questions and score high marks.

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Date: 2 April 2012

Word / PhraseMeaning
open field -field not sheltered
participate -take part (in a game, competition, project)
demonstrate -do something to show how to do it
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -strat·ed; -strat·ing
1 : to show clearly
2 a : to prove or make clear by reasoning or evidence b : to illustrate and explain especially with examples
3 : to show publicly the good qualities of a product <demonstrate a new car>
contest -like competition, challenge (I contect someone means I challenge someone)
croaking - 
eager -keen / excited / impatientially wanted to do something
gracious -Function: adjective

1 : marked by kindness and courtesy
2 : pleasing or attractive in motion or form <gracious ballet steps>
3 : characterized by charm, good taste, and politeness <gracious living>
- gra·cious·ly adverb
- gra·cious·ness noun
stubborn  -refused to listen (to take advice)
Function: adjective
1 a : hard to convince, persuade, or move <stubborn as a mule> b : having or characterized by a firm idea or purpose : DETERMINED <stubborn courage>
2 : done or continued in a firm and determined manner <stubborn refusal>
3 : difficult to handle, manage, or treat <stubborn hair>
synonym see OBSTINATE
- stub·born·ly adverb
- stub·born·ness  /-rn-(n)s/ noun
as bold as a lion  -brave
as strong as an ox -strong
as proud as a peacock -proud
as obstinate as a mule -stubborn
awful -disgusting
merciful -kind, loving
shoal -group of large number (sea creatures) e.g. a shoal of fish
variety -many different things
rowdy - rough or loud in behavior 
cordial -(adjective) -  being warm and friendly <cordial greeting>
passive -Function: adjective
1 a : not active but acted upon <passive spectators> b : indicating that the person or thing represented by the subject is acted on by the verb <"was hit" in "he was hit by the ball" is passive>
2 a : not operating b : of, relating to, or making use of the sun's heat usually without the aid of mechanical devices
3 : offering no resistance
inward -Function: adjective
1 : situated on the inside : INNER
2 : of or relating to the mind or spirit <an inward peace>
3 : directed toward the interior <an inward flow>
abroad -Function: adverb or adjective
1 : over a wide area
2 : away from one's home <doesn't go abroad at night>
3 : in or to foreign countries <travel abroad>
4 : in wide circulation <rumors were abroad>
outward -Function: adjective
1 : moving or directed toward the outside or away from a center <an outward flow>
2 : showing on the outside : EXTERNAL <outward signs of fear>
drones -Function: noun
1 : a male bee (as of the honeybee) that does not have a sting and gathers no honey
2 : a lazy person
3 : an aircraft or ship without a pilot that is controlled by radio signals
apt -Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English apt "suitable," from Latin aptus "apt, fit" --related to ADAPT
1 : just right; especially : being to the point : RELEVANT <an apt remark>
2 : having a tendency : INCLINED, LIKELY <apt to become angry>
3 : quick to learn <an apt pupil>
aptly -adveb of apt
appropriately -Function: adjective
: especially suitable or fitting
synonym see FIT
- ap·pro·pri·ate·ly adverb
- ap·pro·pri·ate·ness noun 
eventually -Function: adverb
: at some later time : in the end
stagnant -Function: adjective
1 : not flowing in a current or stream : MOTIONLESS
2 : not active or brisk <stagnant business>
puddles of water -Function: noun
: a very small pool (as of dirty or muddy water)
imposed -Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): im·posed; im·pos·ing
1 a : to  apply as a charge or penalty <impose a fine> b : to force somebody to accept or put up with <impose one's will on another>
2 : to take unfair advantage <impose on a friend's good nature>
violating -Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -lat·ed; -lat·ing
1 : to fail to keep or observe : BREAK <violate the law>
2 : to do harm or damage to
3 : to treat with great disrespect <violate a house of worship>
4 : DISTURB 1a <don't violate their privacy>
indulge -Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): in·dulged; in·dulg·ing
1 : to give in to one's own or another's desires : HUMOR <indulged their grandchildren's whims>
2 : to allow oneself the pleasure of having or doing something <decided to indulge in an ice cream sundae>
- in·dulg·er noun
nominated -Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -nat·ed; -nat·ing
: to choose as a candidate for election, appointment, or honor; especially : to propose for office <nominated a senator for president>
inspiring -Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): in·spired; in·spir·ing
2 a : to make spirited <inspired by his parents>
b : to cause to have a particular thought or feeling <the old house inspired her with longing for the past>
c : to cause a feeling of : AROUSE <inspires confidence in her followers>
3 : INHALE
4 : BRING ABOUT <studies that inspired several inventions>
- in·spir·er noun
role model -Function: noun
: a person whose behavior in a certain role is imitated by others
e.g. an inspiring role model teacher
lifestyle  -Function: noun
: the usual way of life of a person, group, or society : the way we live

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Comprehension (10 marks)

Read the passage below and answer questions
David Swan, a young man, was travelling on foot from New Hampshire to Boston in America. He was going there to work as a clerk in his uncle's grocery store. He had been walking all morning so he decided to find a spot to rest. He made a pillow with his small bag of clothes and soon fell asleep.
After some time, a brown carriage pulled by a pair of large horses stopped in front of the sleeping young man. A wheel of the carriage was broken and had to be fixed. A wealthy old man and his wife stepped out of the carriage and noticed David.
"Perhaps fate sent him to us." said the old woman. "Since the death of our only child, we have no one to give our money to when we die."
As the couple approached David to wake him up. the driver called out to say that the wheel was fixed and that the carriage was ready to leave. The old couple hurried into the carriage.
Soon, a pretty young girl walked along and saw David sleeping. "How handsome he is!" she thought.
Now, this girl's father was a very rich man and he was looking for a young man to work for him and marry his daughter. However, the girl was too shy to wake David, so she walked away.
After the girl was out of sight. two menacing men approached David . These men made their living by stealing from other people. One man held his knife near David while the other looked into David's bag. Just then, a dog came between the two men and chased them away.
That afternoon, while David slept, he was unaware that fate almost brought him wealth, love and death.
ANSWER the questions below:
1.         Why was David travelling from New Hampshire to Boston?
2.         Why-did the old couple's carriage stop?
3.         What was the old couple's intention with David?
4.         Which word in the passage from lines 15 to 20 has the same meaning as 'evil-looking'?
5.         How did the dog save David's life?
Click here to find the meaning of the words below.  Then make up 1 sentence using the words below.
http://wordcentral.com/cgi-bin/student?book=Student&va=honking


  1. apiary
  2. aviary
  3. abattoir
  4. violence
  5. humber
  6. modest
  7. murdered
  8. equality
  9. melodious
  10. incident
  11. tranquil
  12. gashes

Homework - Chinese 19 Mar 2012

Please learn these Chinese spelling.  Make a sentense using each of them

操场cāo chǎng playground; sports field


拼命地pīn mìng de to be ready to risk one's life (in fighting, work, etc.)

便条biàn tiáo (informal) note
伙伴huǒ bàn partner (for an activity)
骄傲jiāo ào arrogant; conceited; full of oneself
自由自在 yóu  zài freely ;  liberty
qiǎng fight over; to rush; to scramble; to grab; to rob; to snatch