Unit 8 - Surescore

Unit 8

Compare/Contrast

Clamor

“The mounting, surging crowd clamored for
attention.”

clamor

Definition: (v) to express or bring about through an
uproar or crowd of angry people; (n) an uproar; loud
complaints from a crowd of angry people.

Synonym: (V) protest, exclaim (n) a protest or rally

Sentence: (v) The students clamored when it was
announced that the prom was cancelled.

(n) There was much clamor when the athletic
programs were cancelled for the rest of the year.

Multiple Choice

What does the word mean?

Already he could hear the growing clamor of his three loud children.

• screaming

• silence

• patience

Conventional

Many brides get married through conventional
means, which includes church weddings, followed
by a reception.

conventional (adj)

Definition: according to custom, rules or
the norm; ordinary

Synonym: traditional, the norm

Sentence: The school implements a
conventional dress code, which include
pants at the waist, and polo T-shirts in a
certain color; wearing off-color clothing
is unconventional.

Multiple Choice

What does the word mean?

His conventional life might seem kind of boring to you.

• traditional

• exciting

• loud

dogged

He became student of the month only because he
had dogged determination.

dogged (adj)

Definition: stubborn and determined

Synonym = strong, willing

Sentence: His dogged determination
allowed him to surpass his fellow peers
and land the valedictorian spot.

EX 2: Her dogged devotion to her
finishing her story led her to create a
best-selling novel at the age of fifteen.

Multiple Choice

What does the word mean?

Her dogged personality helped her succeed in her life.

• strong

• weak

• anxious

Drab

I can’t help notice the classroom’s lack of cheer
due to the drab decorations on the bulletin board.

drab (adj)

Definition: not bright or colorful; dull

Synonym: bland

Sentence: Her drab clothing matched her equally
drab personality; it is so hard to see her cheerful.

Multiple Choice

What does the word mean?

The drab furniture made it challenging to feel excited to go to class.

• dull

• colorful

• new

Vocabulary Journal Unit 8

1.“An issue that students might clamor over is _____ because…” (explain)

2.

“One conventional way of celebrating Christmas is--”

3.

“I’d have dogged determination over ____________”

4. Some ways to avoid creating a drab-looking kitchen is to…(explain)

Each prompt must be at least 2 sentences long.

Formidable

The size and talent of the opposing football team
made them a formidable team.

formidable (adj)

Definition: causing fear; hard to handle;
inspiring awe and fear

Synonyms: intimidating, dreadful, alarming

Sentence: The SAT incorporates high level
math and reading, which makes passing that
test a formidable task.

Multiple Choice

What does the word mean?

She's such a formidable person that her students feel nervous asking her questions.

• intimidating

• colorful

• happy

haughty

Arachne was talented beyond anyone’s
imagination, but she was painfully haughty about
it.

haughty (adj)

Definition: having or showing great pride in
oneself; arrogant

Synonym: arrogant, cavalier, pompous

Sentence: The haughty student viewed her
classmates with contempt because she knew
she was the brightest member of the class.

Multiple Choice

What does the word mean?

Her haughty personality makes him the most disliked of the group.

• arrogant

• calm

• sad

Liability

I don’t know about taking him along on the trip;
his big mouth and hot temper make him a liability
for us.

liability (n)

Definition: the state of being legally responsible;
something that causes one to be at a disadvantage.

Synonym: responsible, risk

Sentence: Teachers can no longer give students a
ride anywhere because the issue becomes a
liability for them.

EX2: The football player’s short height is a liability,
but his speed makes up for it.

Multiple Choice

What does the word mean?

The students' behaviour during a trip is a huge liability to the sponser.

• risk

• not important

• easy

maestro

“His talent at playing the trumpet made him the
maestro of the band, despite only being a 7th
grader

maestro (n)

Definition: one who is a master in an art form,
particularly music

Synonym: expert at the arts

Sentence: The young maestro is quite talented at
conducted symphonies and people think he is the
next Mozart.

Multiple Choice

What does the word mean?

Victor is a very powerful maestro and one of the best conductors.

• expert

• player

• professor

Vocabulary Journal Unit 8 (Part 2)

5. I have faced a formidable opponent when: (explain)

6. Haughty people tend to ____________ (explain)

7. A school rule that was created because of liability issues is…(explain)

petty

School referrals are for major issues, such as fights
and not petty issues like throwing papers in class.

petty (adj)

Definition: small, unimportant; small-minded,
narrow

Synonym: childish, not important

Sentence: The student often engaged in petty
arguments, such as whose shoes were better or
over the spelling of a word.

synopsis

I don’t care to sit through movies, so I go online
and read the synopsis.

synopsis (n)

Definition: a summary; a brief
retelling

Synonym: a gist, outline

Sentence: Movie websites like Rotten
Tomatoes often have movie synopsis
for audiences who wish to know
what the movie will be about before
watching it.

wane

My interest in books was strong in high school but
as the years went on, my interest began to wane.

Wane (v)

To lessen or decrease; to approach the end of a
phase.

Synonym: diminish, fade

Sentence: The child was so hyper that my patience
for him began to wane.

zeal

His zeal for Sousa marches made his community
band quite the festive, patriotic type.

Zeal (n)

Passion; intense interest

Synonym: strong passion

Her zeal for Kpop groups made her so
annoying because she spent endless
hours trying to recruit members and
talk everyone’s ear off about it.

The Kpop zeal shows no signs of slowing
down.

via NHL on GIPHY

Vocabulary Journal Unit 8

8. A time I was petty was when…(explain)

9. A movie that I’d rather read the synopsis to is ________ because
_______ (explain)

10. Some things I used to love in elementary are ____, but my interested in
them waned as I got to middle school. (explain)

11. I have a zeal for ____________ because ____________