Clues in the Cold
A dog whistle makes a high-pitched sound that is only audible to dogs.
What does the word "audible" mean?
Audible - able to be heard
What are the definitions of "denotation" and "connotation"?
Denotation: the dictionary definition of a word
Connotation: the emotions/feelings attached to the word
As we entered, a large blast of water hit the windshield. Huge flopping sponges began to slap at the hood as we slowly moved forward. Soon, there were suds spilling over the sides. I was glad the windows were rolled up!
Where am I?
Carwash
Explain what a prefix, root, and suffix are.
Prefix: word part before the root that changes meaning
Root: main meaning
Suffix: word part after the root that changes meaning
What type of tree is traditionally used as a Christmas tree?
Traditionally, evergreen coniferous trees are used as Christmas trees, such as fir, pine, spruce, and sometimes cedar.
She gives me this look of disdain ever since I shot her dolls with my BB gun.
What does the word "disdain" mean, and which word(s) help to figure it out?
Definition: Hatred
Clue: Ever since I shot her dolls with my BB gun
Which one of these phrases has more of a negative connotation and why?
An aggressive personality.
A hostile personality.
A hostile personality implies someone is looking for violence.
I liked walking next to the covered wagon more than riding in it with my sisters. If I got tired, sometimes my father would let me ride horseback behind him. In the evening, Pa, my brothers, and I would sleep under the wagon, while Ma and my sisters slept in the wagon. I hoped we would reach the West soon.
Who am I?
Pioneer
What two languages do most of our English root words come from?
What song includes the lyrics “'Tis the season to be jolly”?
Deck the Halls
Jim wanted to ask Janet to the dance, but he felt it was a universally acknowledged truth that popular girls like her didn’t go with unpopular guys like him.
What type of context clue was used in this sentence, and what was the clue? (antonym, synonym, example, or explanation)
Type: Example
Clue: Popular girls like her didn’t go with unpopular guys like him
Fill in appropriate words that have positive, neutral, or negative connotations compared to the words supplied.
Positive: Neutral: Negative:
_______ house shack
Mansion, estate, etc.
“Tommy!” Mom called out as she walked in the front door. “Tommy,” she continued shouting, “I sure could use some help with these groceries. There was still no reply. Mom walked into the kitchen to put the grocery bags down on the counter when she noticed shattered glass from the picture window all over the living room floor and a baseball not far from there. “I’m going to kill you, Tommy!” Mom yelled to herself as she realized that Tommy’s shoes were gone.
Where is Tommy?
What is the prefix in "misplace," and what does it mean?
mis- ; wrong or bad
Where do emperor penguins live?
Antarctica
I wanted to just set the table and be done with it, but my mother scrupulously arranged each napkin, dish, and utensil until they were in perfect alignment.
What does the word "scrupulously" mean, and what type of context clue was used? (antonym, synonym, example, or explanation)
Definition: with great care
Clue Type: Antonym
Give the denotation and connotation for the word: passionate.
Definition: having or showing strong emotions
Connotation: positive
Gina looked in the mirror at the bright red pustule on her nose. She poked at it carefully, afraid that it might burst on her dress. It was large and painful. The more she prodded it, the larger it got. This is not how it was supposed to go! Gina thought to herself. Then she began crying. Her mother yelled up the stairs, "Gina! Eric is here!" This news made Gina even more distraught. Now her makeup was running and just as she feared, some of it got on her dress. "Why me? Why today?" Gina lamented to herself between sobs and gasps.
Who is Eric?
Her boyfriend/date
Break down the word "irreversible" into its morphological parts and define it.
Prefix: ir- & re-
Root: -vers-
Suffix: -ible
Definition: not able to be reversed or undone
What winter Olympic team was the 2004 movie, "Miracle," based on?
The 1980 U.S. men's Olympic hockey team
Her parents really wanted her to attend the local university, but Shaniqua argued her case so emphatically and with such great passion that her parents gave Shaniqua their consent.
What is the meaning of the word "emphatically," what are the word(s) that help determine the meaning, and what type of context clue is being used?
Definition: To say it in a super strong, clear, and forceful way
Clue: with such great passion
Clue Type: Explanation
Rewrite this passage using words with more negative connotations than the bolded words.
Note: you should use words that mean the same thing as the bolded words.
Amelia has been a valuable member of our organization this past year. During that time, she has been very helpful to other members of the class. She has shown herself to be a leader.
Amelia has been a costly member of our organization this past year. During that time, she has been very overbearing to other members of the class. She has shown herself to be a tyrant.
Pam clutched the steering wheel awkwardly. The man in the passenger seat looked at her from behind wireframe glasses and then looked back at his clipboard and made some checks. Pam attempted to pull out from the parking spot slowly, but her foot slipped, and she pressed on the gas too hard. The car jerked back suddenly and she almost crashed into a parked van. The man scowled at her and made another check on his clipboard. He said dryly, "Turn right here." Sweat beads gathered on Pam's brow. She timidly exited the parking lot. Now she was on a thoroughfare and was travelling 15 MPH below the speed limit. Traffic accumulated behind her. The man made a few more checks on his clipboard and wrote a comment. "Turn left at this stop sign," he said. Pam slowly turned left, but she did not stop. Several cars honked, and then she ran over a curb and bumped into a newspaper vending machine. The man hurriedly made several more checks on his clipboard and said, "OK, we're done here. Please get in the passenger seat. I will drive back to the facility."
What is going to happen to Pam?
She is going to fail her driver's test.
Break down the word "uncle" into its morphological parts.
Root: uncle
(no prefix or suffix)
What is the winter solstice?
The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.