A Political Show

Few forms of entertainment are more enjoyable than a glib politician running for office. Most politicians have prepared speeches dealing with the prevalent topics of the day. They can maintain a fervid flow of rhetoric for hours at a time. In each locality where he is to appear, the advanced work is prepared by a clique of trustworthy aides. In preparation for the show, they dispersed leaflets, put up posters, and sent out cars and trucks with loudspeakers to extol the erudite qualities of their candidate. Soon, the crowd gathers. Loyal party workers come forward to shake the hand of their mentor. Now, with the facile solution to complex problems carefully memorized, the show is ready to begin. One moment facetious, the next moment profound, the candidate works to convince the incredulous among the voters.

• glib
• prevalent
• fervid
• rhetoric
• locality
• trustworthy
• disperse
• put up
• sent out
• extol
• erudite
• candidate
• come forward
• facile
• memorized
• facetious
• profound
• convince
• incredulous

Short Explanation:

• Glib: Glib refers to someone who speaks in a smooth, fluent, and often insincere or superficial manner.
• Prevalent: Prevalent means something that is widespread, common, or frequently occurring.
• Fervid: Fervid describes intense passion, enthusiasm, or zeal towards something.
• Rhetoric: Rhetoric refers to the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, often used to influence or persuade an audience.
• Locality: Locality refers to a specific area or region, typically a smaller geographic location or neighborhood.
• Trustworthy: Trustworthy describes someone or something that is reliable, dependable, and can be trusted.
• Disperse: Disperse means to scatter, spread out, or distribute something over a wide area.
• Put up: Put up means to erect or assemble something, such as a structure or a sign.
• Sent out: Sent out means to dispatch or distribute something, such as a message or a package, to its intended recipients.
• Extol: Extol means to praise, commend, or speak highly of someone or something.
• Erudite: Erudite describes someone who has extensive knowledge, learning, or scholarship in a particular field.
• Candidate: A candidate is a person who is being considered or nominated for a position, such as a job or an elected office.
• Come forward: Come forward means to step forward or offer oneself voluntarily, often in response to a request or call for help.
• Facile: Facile refers to something that is easily achieved, accomplished, or understood, often with little effort or thought.
• Memorized: Memorized means to commit something to memory, such as information, lines, or facts.
• Facetious: Facetious describes someone who is joking or making humorous remarks, often at inappropriate or serious times.
• Profound: Profound refers to something that is deep, significant, or having a profound impact or meaning.
• Convince: Convince means to persuade or win someone over to a particular belief, idea, or course of action.
• Incredulous: Incredulous describes someone who is skeptical, doubtful, or unwilling to believe something without strong evidence or proof.

*****

Here are explanations and sample sentences for the words you provided:

Glib: This describes someone who is smooth-talking, persuasive, and often insincere. It suggests a lack of depth or substance in their communication.

• The salesman was glib, but his promises were empty.
• The politician’s glib answers failed to address the real issues.
• The comedian’s jokes were glib and unoriginal.

Prevalent: This describes something that is common or widespread. It suggests a widespread occurrence or a frequent presence.

• The use of social media is prevalent among young people.
• The disease was prevalent in the region.
• The practice of recycling is becoming increasingly prevalent.

Fervid: This describes something that is passionate, intense, or enthusiastic. It suggests a strong feeling or a fervent devotion.

• The politician gave a fervid speech, inspiring the crowd to action.
• The artist’s fervid passion for painting was evident in her work.
• The religious group held a fervid prayer meeting.

Rhetoric: This refers to the art of effective communication, especially in speaking or writing. It suggests a skillful use of language to persuade or inspire.

• The politician’s rhetoric was designed to appeal to the emotions of the voters.
• The writer’s rhetoric was powerful and persuasive.
• The professor’s lecture was filled with sophisticated rhetoric.

Locality: This refers to a particular place or area. It suggests a specific location or a neighborhood.

• The store was popular with residents of the locality.
• The police investigated the crime scene in the locality where the robbery occurred.
• The company’s headquarters was located in a bustling locality.

Trustworthy: This describes someone or something that is reliable and dependable. It suggests a sense of confidence and a belief in someone’s integrity.

• The trustworthy employee was always given important tasks.
• The trustworthy source provided accurate information.
• The trustworthy friend was always there to offer support.

Disperse: This means to scatter or spread out. It suggests a movement away from a concentrated area or a distribution over a wider region.

• The crowd dispersed after the concert ended.
• The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters.
• The seeds were dispersed by the wind.

Put up: This means to build or erect something. It suggests a construction or a creation process.

• They put up a new fence around the property.
• The company put up a billboard to advertise its products.
• The artist put up a display of her paintings in the gallery.

Sent out: This means to mail or deliver something. It suggests a process of distribution or communication.

• The company sent out a press release announcing its new product.
• The teacher sent out the exam results to the students.
• The organization sent out a newsletter to its members.

Extol: This means to praise highly or to celebrate something. It suggests a strong admiration or appreciation.

• The teacher extolled the virtues of honesty and integrity.
• The author extolled the beauty of nature in her writing.
• The speaker extolled the achievements of the company.

Erudite: This describes someone who is learned or scholarly. It suggests a deep knowledge or a wide range of intellectual pursuits.

• The erudite professor delivered a fascinating lecture on ancient history.
• The erudite writer’s book was filled with references to literature and philosophy.
• The erudite scholar was respected for her knowledge and insights.

Candidate: This refers to a person who is considered for a particular job, position, or award. It suggests a potential choice or a nominee.

• The candidates for the job were all highly qualified.
• The presidential candidates debated their policies on television.
• The award committee reviewed the candidates’ applications.

Come forward: This means to volunteer information or to offer assistance. It suggests a willingness to step up or to take initiative.

• Witnesses were asked to come forward with information about the crime.
• The company offered a reward for anyone who came forward with information about the missing person.
• The volunteer group encouraged people to come forward and help with the cause.

Facile: This describes something that is easy or superficial. It suggests a lack of depth or complexity.

• The facile solution to the problem was not sustainable.
• The artist’s work was criticized for its facile approach.
• The politician’s facile promises failed to inspire confidence.

Memorized: This means to learn something by heart. It suggests a process of memorization or recall.

• The student memorized the poem for the recitation.
• The actor memorized his lines before the performance.
• The singer memorized the lyrics to the song.

Facetious: This describes something that is meant to be humorous or playful, but is often inappropriate or insensitive. It suggests a lack of seriousness or a tendency to make light of a situation.

• The comedian’s facetious remarks offended some members of the audience.
• The politician’s facetious comments about the tragedy were widely condemned.
• The student’s facetious answer to the question was not well-received by the teacher.

Profound: This describes something that is deep, intense, or significant. It suggests a level of meaning or understanding that goes beyond the superficial.

• The philosopher’s ideas were profound and thought-provoking.
• The artist’s work had a profound impact on the art world.
• The loss of a loved one can lead to profound grief.

Convince: This means to persuade someone to believe something or to do something. It suggests a process of influencing or persuading someone.

• The lawyer tried to convince the jury of the defendant’s innocence.
• The salesperson convinced the customer to buy the product.
• The teacher convinced the students to work harder.

Incredulous: This describes someone who is unwilling or unable to believe something. It suggests a state of disbelief or skepticism.

• The audience was incredulous at the magician’s tricks.
• The scientist was incredulous at the results of the experiment.
• The news of the disaster was met with incredulity.

***

The Mask of Words

In a small town where glib tongues prevailed, a fervid election season took hold. The air was thick with rhetoric as candidates vied for the trust of the townspeople. In this tight-knit locality, the need for a trustworthy leader was paramount, but finding one seemed like an elusive task.

Campaign promises were dispersed like confetti, each candidate eager to put up a facade of competence and charisma. Speeches were sent out like waves, reaching every corner of the town. The contenders sought to extol their virtues, hoping to convince the people of their worthiness.

Among the candidates, one stood out. Sophie, an erudite and principled individual, had come forward with a vision that went beyond mere facile words. Her speeches were not memorized scripts but heartfelt expressions of her profound beliefs and dedication to the town’s welfare.

As Sophie addressed the crowds, she did not resort to facetious banter or empty promises. Instead, she spoke with a sincerity that left the audience incredulous. Her words carried weight, resonating with the townspeople who had grown weary of empty rhetoric.

Sophie’s profound understanding of the town’s challenges and her genuine desire to bring about positive change began to convince the people. They saw in her a leader who would not shy away from difficult decisions or prioritize personal gain. Her integrity and dedication were undeniable.

As election day approached, the town buzzed with anticipation. The prevailing sentiment was one of hope, as the people recognized the importance of choosing a leader who would prioritize their needs and uphold their trust. Sophie’s campaign gained momentum, fueled by the belief in her ability to make a difference.

When the votes were counted, Sophie emerged as the chosen candidate. The town rejoiced, knowing that their voice had been heard, and their trust had been placed in capable hands. Sophie’s victory was not just a triumph for her but for the collective hope of a better future.

“The Mask of Words” tells the story of a town’s search for a trustworthy leader amidst a sea of empty rhetoric. It serves as a reminder that true leadership goes beyond glib promises, requiring sincerity, integrity, and a profound understanding of the people’s needs. May we always seek leaders who inspire trust and work tirelessly for the betterment of our communities.

Note:

• glib – lancar
• rhetoric – retorika
• tight knit locality – komunitas yang erat
• elusive – sulit ditangkap
• disperse – menyebarkan
• confetti – serpihan kertas
• to put up – memasang
• facade – fasad
• sent out – dikirimkan
• contender – pesaing
• sought to – berusaha untuk
• extol – memuji
• convince – meyakinkan
• erudite – berpengetahuan luas
• facile memorized – mudah dihafal
• facetious – jenaka
• banter – candaan
• sincerity – ketulusan
• incredulous – tidak percaya