Once upon a time, there was a bachelor named Jack who lived in a vacant house on the outskirts of the city. Despite the hardship of living alone, he was unaccustomed to sharing his space with anyone else. One day, he stumbled upon a lost dog on his path and decided to take him in. …
Absolutely Essential Words
100 Frequently Misspelled Words
A good technique for mastering these spelling words is to write each one five times and then have a friend ask you to spell them aloud. Note the clues to correct spelling. The Ascent of the Bigot In the heart of the bustling metropolis, a young man named Alex ascended the corporate ladder with adroit …
A Time for Decision
Carl Brown walked wearily from the bus stop, his thoughts preoccupied with the day’s events. He had become accustomed to receiving the blame for his colleagues’ mistakes. He could remain complacent when less deserving workers were promoted ahead of him. He could even maintain an air of indifference when the young man he had trained …
Where Do We Go From Here?
When we grow too complacent with ourselves, along come writers who, wasplike, sting us with reminders of the many problems we face, from rehabilitating former prisoners on parole to feeding the world’s hungry population. Those authors do not see civilization rising almost vertically to greater and greater heights. Though a multitude of problems beset America, …
Weight-watchers
Judging from the popularity of books on dieting, one would think an epidemic of obesity is sweeping the nation. Although being fat is not contagious, it is a condition not to be sneered at since it affects one-fourth of all Americans. Without magnifying the problem, professionals concerned with the nation’s health, from chiropractors to medical …
Roast Beef on Rye
A little digging will unearth the roots of our language and habits. For instance, our word “sandwich” is derived from the Earl of Sandwich, who lived in the time of George III. This gentleman would not depart from the gambling table for hours on end. If his play happened to coincide with dinner, he would …
Gulliver’s Travels
Vocabulary Focus: *** You’re doing great! Here are explanations and examples for those words, focusing on their meanings and nuances: Biography A biography is a written account of a person’s life, often including details about their achievements, experiences, and relationships. Drench To drench means to soak something thoroughly in liquid. It can refer to getting …
Listen to Smokey the Bear
Lesson 37 *** You’re doing great! Here are explanations and examples for those words, focusing on their meanings and nuances: Heir An heir is a person who is legally entitled to inherit property or a title after the death of the previous owner. Heirloom An heirloom is a valuable object that has been passed down …
A Helping Hand
Youth workers Bill Nash and Jim Boyle are house hunters, not so much for a house as for a concerned family willing to house and feed troubled youngsters temporarily. They try to give prompt attention to those who cannot or will not live at home.For some, leaving home may have resulted from a hasty decision …
Summer Travel
Lesson 35 You got it! Here are explanations and examples for those words, focusing on their meanings and nuances: Vague Vague means unclear, imprecise, or indefinite. It suggests a lack of specific details or a lack of clarity in communication. Elevate To elevate means to raise something to a higher position, to lift up or …