Understanding Vocabulary R&W7

Earthshine – the faint light that allows us to see the dark of the moon, then the moon is a thin crescent – is sunlight reflected from the earth to the moon, the back again. Earthshine is variable because the earth’s reflectivity changes as large cloud masses come and go. The moon with its earthshine acts as a crude weather satellite by reporting, in a very simple way, the general state of terrestrial cloudiness. Because the amount of light reflected from the earth depends on the amount of cloud cover, the brightness of the dark side of the moon varies.

As the phase of the moon progresses beyond a thin crescent, earthshine fades in a day or two. This is because the amount of sunlit earth available to make earthshine diminishes as the moon orbits the earth. Also, there is the increasing glare of the moon’s growing crescent, which causes a loss of visibility by irradiation.

The word crude in paragraph 1 is closet in meaning to

• False

• Stormy

• Random

• Simple

Earthshine – the faint light that allows us to see the dark of the moon, then the moon is a thin crescent – is sunlight reflected from the earth to the moon, the back again. Earthshine is variable because the earth’s reflectivity changes as large cloud masses come and go. The moon with its earthshine acts as a crude weather satellite by reporting, in a very simple way, the general state of terrestrial cloudiness. Because the amount of light reflected from the earth depends on the amount of cloud cover, the brightness of the dark side of the moon varies.

As the phase of the moon progresses beyond a thin crescent, earthshine fades in a day or two. This is because the amount of sunlit earth available to make earthshine diminishes as the moon orbits the earth. Also, there is the increasing glare of the moon’s growing crescent, which causes a loss of visibility by irradiation.

The word glare in paragraph 2 is closet in meaning to

• cloud cover

• bright light

• wave frequency

• dark sphere

A growing number of companies are finding that small- group discussions allow them to develop healthier ways to think about work. People at all levels of the corporate structure are starting groups that meet weekly or monthly to talk over ways to make workplaces more ethical and just.

Several factors must be present for small- group discussions to be successful. First, it is important to put together the right group. Groups work best when they consist of people who have similar duties, responsibilities, and missions. This does not mean, however, that everyone in the group must think in lockstep.

All participants should agree on the group’s purpose. Finding the right subject matter is essential. There are several ways to fuel the discussion: by using the company’s mission statement, by finding readings on work and ethics by experts in the topic, or by analyzing specific workplace incidents that have affected the company or others like it.

Finally, the dynamics of the group should be balanced, and the discussion leader must not be allowed to overwhelm the conversation or the agenda. Groups work best when the same person is not always in charge. It is better to rotate the leadership or each meeting and let the leader choose the material for discussion.

The phrase “talk over” in paragraph 1 is closet in meaning to:

• demand

• overlook

• explore

• remove

A growing number of companies are finding that small- group discussions allow them to develop healthier ways to think about work. People at all levels of the corporate structure are starting groups that meet weekly or monthly to talk over ways to make workplaces more ethical and just.

Several factors must be present for small- group discussions to be successful. First, it is important to put together the right group. Groups work best when they consist of people who have similar duties, responsibilities, and missions. This does not mean, however, that everyone in the group must think in lockstep.

All participants should agree on the group’s purpose. Finding the right subject matter is essential. There are several ways to fuel the discussion: by using the company’s mission statement, by finding readings on work and ethics by experts in the topic, or by analyzing specific workplace incidents that have affected the company or others like it.

Finally, the dynamics of the group should be balanced, and the discussion leader must not be allowed to overwhelm the conversation or the agenda. Groups work best when the same person is not always in charge. It is better to rotate the leadership or each meeting and let the leader choose the material for discussion.

The phrase “in lockstep” in paragraph 2 is closet in meaning to:

• alike

• critically

• aloud

• quickly

A growing number of companies are finding that small- group discussions allow them to develop healthier ways to think about work. People at all levels of the corporate structure are starting groups that meet weekly or monthly to talk over ways to make workplaces more ethical and just.

Several factors must be present for small- group discussions to be successful. First, it is important to put together the right group. Groups work best when they consist of people who have similar duties, responsibilities, and missions. This does not mean, however, that everyone in the group must think in lockstep.

All participants should agree on the group’s purpose. Finding the right subject matter is essential. There are several ways to fuel the discussion: by using the company’s mission statement, by finding readings on work and ethics by experts in the topic, or by analyzing specific workplace incidents that have affected the company or others like it.

Finally, the dynamics of the group should be balanced, and the discussion leader must not be allowed to overwhelm the conversation or the agenda. Groups work best when the same person is not always in charge. It is better to rotate the leadership or each meeting and let the leader choose the material for discussion.

The phrase “fuel” in paragraph 3 is closet in meaning to:

• categorize

• stimulate

• sequence

• conclude

A growing number of companies are finding that small- group discussions allow them to develop healthier ways to think about work. People at all levels of the corporate structure are starting groups that meet weekly or monthly to talk over ways to make workplaces more ethical and just.

Several factors must be present for small- group discussions to be successful. First, it is important to put together the right group. Groups work best when they consist of people who have similar duties, responsibilities, and missions. This does not mean, however, that everyone in the group must think in lockstep.

All participants should agree on the group’s purpose. Finding the right subject matter is essential. There are several ways to fuel the discussion: by using the company’s mission statement, by finding readings on work and ethics by experts in the topic, or by analyzing specific workplace incidents that have affected the company or others like it.

Finally, the dynamics of the group should be balanced, and the discussion leader must not be allowed to overwhelm the conversation or the agenda. Groups work best when the same person is not always in charge. It is better to rotate the leadership or each meeting and let the leader choose the material for discussion.

The phrase “overwhelm” in paragraph 4 is closet in meaning to:

• dominate

• plan

• summarize

• contradict

Cool has withstood the fleeting nature of most slang. As a modifier, as a noun, and as a verb, cool has been around a long time. Shakespeare used cool as a verb, and the word later evolved into other parts of speech. It has been used as an adjective since 1728 to describe large sums of money, as in “worth a cool ten million.”

Cool, meaning “excellent” or “first-rate,” was popularized in jazz circles, and jazz musicians and jazz lovers still refer to great works as “cool.” As long as Miles Davis’ classic 1949 album, Birth of the cool, remains one of the best-selling jazz recordings of all time, cool will stay cool- it will carry the same weight as it did more than 50 years ago. One reason for the endurance of cool is that its meaning continues to evolve. While it meant “wow!” two decade ago, today it is more often used to mean, “That’s OK with me,” as in “I’m cool with that.”

1. The word fleeting in paragraph 1 is closet in meaning to

• Temporary

• Youthful

• Youthful

• Popular

Cool has withstood the fleeting nature of most slang. As a modifier, as a noun, and as a verb, cool has been around a long time. Shakespeare used cool as a verb, and the word later evolved into other parts of speech. It has been used as an adjective since 1728 to describe large sums of money, as in “worth a cool ten million.”

Cool, meaning “excellent” or “first-rate,” was popularized in jazz circles, and jazz musicians and jazz lovers still refer to great works as “cool.” As long as Miles Davis’ classic 1949 album, Birth of the cool, remains one of the best-selling jazz recordings of all time, cool will stay cool- it will carry the same weight as it did more than 50 years ago. One reason for the endurance of cool is that its meaning continues to evolve. While it meant “wow!” two decade ago, today it is more often used to mean, “That’s OK with me,” as in “I’m cool with that.”

The phrase carry the same weight in paragraph 2 means

• Refer to great music

• Refer to a large sum of money

• Have the same importance

• Have the same meaning

Modern tourism began with the transition from a rural to an industrial society, the rise of the automobile, and the expansion of road and highway systems. Before the Second World War, travel for pleasure was limited to the wealthy, but since then, improved standards of living and the availability of transportation have allowed more people to indulge. In the 1960, improvements in aircraft technology and the development of commercial jet airlines enabled fast international travel. The tourism industry exploded. Today, airports in nearly every country can accommodate jumbo jets full of tourist seeking exotic destinations.

The word indulge in the passage is closet in meaning to

• participate

• migrate

• survive

• change

Modern tourism began with the transition from a rural to an industrial society, the rise of the automobile, and the expansion of road and highway systems. Before the Second World War, travel for pleasure was limited to the wealthy, but since then, improved standards of living and the availability of transportation have allowed more people to indulge. In the 1960, improvements in aircraft technology and the development of commercial jet airlines enabled fast international travel. The tourism industry exploded. Today, airports in nearly every country can accommodate jumbo jets full of tourist seeking exotic destinations.

The word exploded in the passage is closet in meaning to

• was competitive

• expanded rapidly

• was expensive

• became dangerous