Vocabulary Focus:
- Tendency
- Sparing
- Sparingly
- Interminate
- Interminable:
- Throng
- Particular
- Intrepid
- Accosted
- Sermon
- Stance
- His reserved nature
- He was against it
- a sword of Damocles
To the Point
Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was known as “Silent Cal” due to his tendency to speak sparingly. Following an interminable sermon, a throng of journalists gathered around him on one particular Sunday. One intrepid reporter accosted the President, “Mr. President, we understand that the sermon was about sin. Can you tell us what the minister’s stance on the topic was?” Coolidge, known for his reserved nature, responded, “He was against it.”
- Tendency: kecenderungan
- Sparing: hemat
- Sparingly: dengan hemat
- Interminate: tidak berakhir
- Interminable: tidak berkesudahan
- Throng: kerumunan
- A throng of: sebuah kerumunan
- Particular: tertentu
- Particular Sunday: Minggu tertentu
- Intrepid: berani
- Accosted: disapa
- Sermon: khotbah
- Stance: sikap
- His reserved nature: sifatnya yang tertutup
- He was against it: dia menentangnya
- The sword of Damocles
2nd verse
Calvin Coolidge, our thirtieth president, was named “Silent Cal” by reporters because of his laconic speech. One Sunday, after Mr. Coolidge had listened to an interminable sermon, a throng of newsmen gathered around him. An intrepid reporter accosted the Chief Executive: “Mr. President, we know that the sermon was on the topic of sin. What did the minister say?” “He was against it,” the reticent Coolidge replied.
- Silent Cal: Silent Cal (merupakan julukan untuk Presiden Amerika Serikat ke-30, yaitu Calvin Coolidge)
- Laconic: lakonik
- Interminable sermon: khotbah yang tak berkesudahan
- A throng of newsmen: kerumunan wartawan
- Intrepid: berani, gagah berani
- Accost: menegur, menyapa
- Chief Executive: kepala eksekutif
- Reticent: pendiam, tidak suka bicara
- the sword of Damocles:
“The sword of Damocles” is an expression that refers to a threat that hangs over someone’s head, which can cause danger or disaster at any moment. This expression comes from an ancient Greek legend about a servant named Damocles, who was believed to have been invited by a king to have dinner on his royal throne. However, above his head, the king placed a sword hanging by a horsehair, showing that the power held by the king also brought great risk and threat. Since then, the expression “the sword of Damocles” has been used to refer to a threat that hangs over someone’s head.
The Silent Warrior
He had a tendency to be sparing with his words, using them sparingly and only when necessary. His life was an interminate struggle against an interminable enemy, a throng of foes that never ceased to attack. He had no particular reason to fight, except for his own intrepid spirit and sense of duty. He often accosted the enemy leaders, challenging them to single combat, but they always refused. He did not care for their sermons, their empty promises and threats. He only cared for his stance, his firm position that he would never surrender. His reserved nature made him a mystery to his allies, who admired and feared him in equal measure. He was against it when they proposed a truce, a temporary peace that would only postpone the inevitable. He knew it was a trap, a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.
