Vocabulary Focus:
- Despite
- Disrupt
- Rash
- Rapid
- Exhaust
- Severity
- Feeble
- Unite
- Cease
- Thrifty
- Miserly
- Monarch
You got it! Here are explanations and examples for those words, focusing on their meanings and nuances:
Despite
Despite means in spite of, even though. It indicates that something happens or is true even though there is a contrary factor.
- Despite the rain, they went for a walk.
- She completed the marathon despite her injury.
- Despite their differences, they were good friends.
Disrupt
To disrupt means to interrupt or upset the normal course of something, to cause disorder or confusion.
- The protesters disrupted the meeting.
- The storm disrupted power lines.
- Disrupting the peace can have serious consequences.
Rash
Rash means acting or done too quickly, without thinking carefully or considering the consequences. It can also refer to a sudden eruption of red spots on the skin.
- He made a rash decision that he later regretted.
- She had a rash on her arm.
- Rash judgments can often lead to mistakes.
Rapid
Rapid means happening or moving quickly.
- The train traveled at rapid speed.
- The disease spread rapidly through the population.
- Rapid growth can be both beneficial and challenging.
Exhaust
To exhaust means to tire someone or something out completely.
- The long journey exhausted them.
- The constant demands of the job exhausted her.
- Exhausting can be physically or mentally draining.
Severity
Severity means the seriousness or intensity of something, such as a problem, illness, or punishment.
- The doctor assessed the severity of her injury.
- The severity of the storm caused widespread damage.
- Severity can be used to describe the level of danger or harm.
Feeble
Feeble means weak, frail, or lacking in strength or vigor.
- He felt feeble after his illness.
- She made a feeble attempt to stand up.
- Feeble can also describe something that is ineffective or inadequate.
Unite
To unite means to join together or combine, to form a single entity.
- The countries united to fight against the common enemy.
- She united her family after years of division.
- Uniting people can be a powerful force for good.
Cease
To cease means to stop or end something, to bring something to a halt.
- The rain ceased.
- He ceased to be a member of the club.
- Ceaseless effort is often required to achieve great things.
Thrifty
Thrifty means careful with money, using resources wisely and avoiding waste.
- She was a thrifty shopper who always looked for bargains.
- The thrifty farmer saved seeds from his harvest to plant the next year.
- Thriftiness can lead to financial security.
Miserly
Miserly means unwilling to spend money, stingy or cheap.
- He was a miserly man who refused to give to charity.
- Miserly behavior can be seen as selfish and unkind.
Monarch
A monarch is a supreme ruler, such as a king or queen.
- The monarch ruled the country for many years.
- Monarchies are a form of government in which a single person holds supreme power.
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Problems We Face
Despite wars, disease, and natural disasters, our world is experiencing a population explosion (boom) that threatens to change or disrupt life as we know it. Vast numbers of people must be fed and housed, and in the process, a whole rash of problems has descended upon the human race.
First has been the pollution of the air and the contamination of the water supply. Second has been the rapid exhaustion of fuels, minerals, and other natural resources. The response to this situation has ranged from utter disbelief to exaggerated concern.
Since scientists themselves disagree on the severity of the problem, our feeble knowledge is surely unable to suggest the correct course of action. But we cannot stand still because there is too much at stake. We are, therefore, compelled to unite in our efforts to ensure that human life on this planet does not cease. We must learn to be thrifty, even miserly, with the gifts of nature that we have formerly taken for granted. If our past reveals a reckless squandering of our natural possessions, we must now find an intelligent guide* to their use so that we may remain monarchs of a world with peace and plenty.
- Despite: Terlepas dari, meskipun, tanpa menghiraukan
- Disrupt: Mengganggu, mengacaukan, merusak
- Rash: Terburu-buru, gegabah, sembrono
- Rapid: Cepat, kencang, deras
- Exhaust: Mengeksploitasi, menguras, melelahkan
- Severity: Kekerasan, keparahan, keganasan
- Feeble: Lemah, rapuh, tidak kuat
- Unite: Bersatu, menyatukan, bergabung
- Cease: Berhenti, menghentikan, mengakhiri
- Thrifty: Hemat, cermat, bijak dalam pengeluaran
- Miserly: Pelit, kikir, serakah
- Monarch: Raja, penguasa, raja-raja.
The Rash Rebellion
Despite the severity of the situation, the rebels did not cease their attacks on the palace. They were determined to disrupt the rule of the miserly monarch, who had imposed heavy taxes on the poor and hoarded all the wealth for himself. The rebels had been planning this uprising for months, but they had to act rapidly when one of their spies was discovered and tortured. They knew they had only one chance to unite the people and overthrow the tyrant. They fought with courage and passion, but they were also exhausted and feeble from hunger and lack of resources. The king’s army was well-trained and well-equipped, and they showed no mercy to the rebels. The battle was bloody and brutal, and many lives were lost on both sides. The rebels managed to reach the gates of the palace, but they were met with a final obstacle: a moat filled with crocodiles. They had no choice but to jump in and hope for the best. Some of them made it across, but others were devoured by the hungry beasts. The survivors stormed into the palace, hoping to find the king and end his reign of terror. But they were in for a shock: the king was nowhere to be found. He had escaped through a secret tunnel, taking his treasure with him. He had been too thrifty and rash to care about his people or his country. He had abandoned them all to their fate.
