Definitions
to acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away
What is garner
creation, invention, fancy
What is figment
scatter, squander, waste
What is garner
Most writers are also _______________________ readers who have loved books since childhood.
a) myopic b) overt c) avid
d) taciturn
What is c) avid
What was the name of the University that Randy taught at and delivered his "last lecture?"
What is Carnegie Mellon
to set apart as holy or sacred, sanctify, consecrate; to honor greatly
What is hallow
eccentricity, quirk, mannerism
What is idiosyncrasy
invigorate, strengthen, buttress
What is enervate
lacking in spirit and strength; ineffective, weak; irresponsible, unreliable
What is feckless
Who was Randy's "Dutch Uncle"- a Dutch Uncle is one who will "tell it to you straight."
Who is Andy Van Dam (his former professor and then colleague)
to weaken or lessen the mental, moral, or physical vigor of
What is enervate
shade, nicety, refinement
What is nuance
profane, defile, desecrate
What is hallow
This vocabulary word has a bi-fold definition, one definition meaning immature in experience and the other meaning green in tint or color
What is verdant
In the chapter "Dream Big," Randy was pretty upset with his camp counselors as they sent all the kids at camp to bed without viewing this historic event. What did the kids at camp miss?
What is the moon landing
marked by evil and corruption, devoid of moral principles
What is depraved
omnipresent, pervasive, universal
What is ubiquitous
restricted, limited, rare, scarce
What is ubiquitous
so nearsighted that one can't see the woods for the trees
a) accost b) myopic c) coherent d) eschew
What is b) myopic
In the chapter entitled "In Fifty Years, It Never Came Up," what did Randy find out about an 'achievement' his father received...that was never discussed before his passing?
What is receiving the Bronze Star for valor
earthly, worldly, relating to practical and material affairs; concerned with what is ordinary
What is mundane
keenness, acuteness
What is acuity
honor, glory, acclaim
What is ignominy
That word has such _______________________ connotations in modern American parlance that I would hesitate to use it, even in jest.
a) acquisitive b) incendiary c) utopian
d) invidious
What is d) invidious
How did it come to be, that a pair of salt and pepper shakers could amount to $100,000?
The generosity of a store clerk at Disney providing new salt & pepper shakers for the ones that Randy accidentally dropped and broke. In return, his parents continued taking ESL students to Disney for over 20 years, amounting to over $100,000.