English 10 Vocabulary Week #2

Definitions: Write these on your own paper to SAVE.  Laconic: expressing much in few words  Throng: a crowd  Intrepid: brave  Accost: to approach and speak to  Reticent: silent, reserved, reluctant  Furtive: secret, stealthy  Felon: a person guilty of a major crime  Plethora: excess  Hapless: unfortunate  Irate: angry, incensed

Words in context: Calvin Coolidge, our thirtieth president, was named “Silent Cal” by reporters because of his laconic speech. One Sunday, after Mr. Coolidge had listened to a long sermon at church, a throng of reporters gathered around him. An intrepid reporter accosted the Chief Executive, saying, “Mr. President, we know that the sermon was on the topic of sin. What did the minister say?” The reticent Coolidge replied, “He was against it.”

Words in context: Casting a furtive glance over his shoulder, the felon slipped out the main prison gate to be swallowed up in the British fog. A plethora of escapes from supposedly secure prisons embarrassed the hapless wardens. To add to their problems, the officials were pestered by irate citizens who accused the guards of accepting bribes from convicts whose motto was: “Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage.”

To be handed in on a separate sheet of paper:  Write the WORD that should appear on the blank. 1.His speech was usually rambling, but this time I found it brief and _______. 2.Since the boss learned that Bob associated with known ______s, he fired him. 3.When ____ed by a salesman, my mother always buys something. 4.The ________ contest winner was unable to locate the lucky ticket. 5.Even under repeated questioning, the witness remained _____. 6.My uncle was ____ when he dropped his phone over the side of the boat. 7.A howling ___of girls surrounded the Beatles when the band got out of its limousine. 8.In a ____ manner, the unprepared boy tried to glance at a friend’s test. 9.When the teacher asked why the homework had not been done, he was given a ____ of foolish excuses by the students. 10.The soldier received the Silver Star for his ___ deeds in combat.