Read the following Russian folktale about some clever
forest animals. Notice how the highlighted words are used.
These are the words you will be learning in this unit.
Why The Bear Sleeps So Much
Long ago, when the world was as fresh
and new as a daffodil in springtime, the
animals faced a serious problem. Troublesome
Bear was ruining everything in their forest.
The songbirds were all terrified whenever
Bear passed through the woods in his usual
clumsy way. He would blunder into branches,
smashing the birds’ fragile nests and eggs. Bear
also crushed the hives of the bees and stole
their honey, so the bees had a continuous
argument with him. Bear squashed the tunnel
like homes of the gophers and the rabbits with
his big feet, and in general caused so many
disturbances that the animals couldn’t relax.
As angry as they were, however, the animals
didn’t really want to get into a scuffle with
Bear. He was much too big and strong!
Desperate, the animals called a meeting
to decide on a course of action. “Why don’t
we just ask Bear to be more considerate?”
suggested Deer timidly.
Squirrel was quick to reject Deer’s idea.
“That won’t work,” Squirrel insisted, “because
Bear never listens to anyone. I think he just
enjoys walking all over us!”
“Throw Bear in jail,” Rat shouted. “Force
him to live a solitary life in a jail cell and he
won’t be able to injure and torment us ever
again.”
The animals nodded in approval at this idea
until Mouse pointed out an obvious problem.
“We don’t have a jail,” Mouse squeaked, “and
if we did, someone would have to feed Bear
in his cell.” The very thought of feeding Bear
made all the animals shake in fear.
Other animals offered more ideas. Skunk
suggested that Porcupine distribute some of
his extra sharp quills in Bear’s bed. Porcupine
suggested that Skunk send some smelly spray
into Bear’s den. Neither animal was brave
enough to try the other’s plan, however, and
the ideas probably wouldn’t have worked
anyway. Indeed, it looked as if there were no
solution to the problem, and the animals were
about to cancel the rest of their meeting.
Fortunately, at that moment, Eagle flew in
like a bolt of lightning. The animals cheered
because Eagle was a veteran problem solver.
Whenever there was trouble in the forest, Eagle
found a way to put an end to it. This time,
Eagle clutched a document in his sharp claws.
“As we all know,” Eagle thundered, “Bear can’t
hurt anyone or destroy anything when he’s
asleep. This statement,” he said, waving the
document, “requires Bear to sleep from October
to April every year. I hope you will all sign it!”
What a great idea! The animals read the
document and added their names to it. True, it
didn’t get rid of Bear permanently, but it gave
them temporary relief. At the very least, the
animals could look forward to peace and quiet
for six months of every year.
The myth doesn’t say how the animals
gave their signed document to Bear or what
his reaction was to it. Who knows? Maybe he
liked the animals’ suggestion, for one thing is
certain: Bear has been sleeping away half the
year ever since!
You were introduced to the words below in the passage.
Study the pronunciation, spelling, part of
speech, and definition of each word. Write the word in
the blank space in the sentence that follows. Then read
the synonyms and antonyms.
Remember
A noun (n.) is a word that names
a person, place, or thing.
A verb (v.) is a word or words that
express action or a state of being.
An adjective (adj.) is a word that
describes a noun or pronoun.
blunder (blun’ d¤r)
(v.) to make a foolish or careless mistake; to move clumsily and
carelessly
I saw the hiker _____________________through the woods.
(n.) a serious or thoughtless mistake
I was terribly embarrassed by my __________________.
SYNONYMS: (v.) to err, foul up, bungle, goof; (n.) an error, blooper
ANTONYMS: (v.) to triumph, succeed; (n.) a success, hit
2. cancel (kan’ s¤l)
(v.) to call off or do away with; to cross out with
lines or other marks to show that something
cannot be used again
Maybe the principal will ___________________
classes if it continues to snow.
SYNONYMS: to stop, discontinue, drop, repeal, revoke
ANTONYMS: to renew, continue, extend, maintain
3. continuous (k¤n tin’ yü ¤s)
(adj.) going on without a stop or break
_____________________ TV coverage began shortly after news of the
disaster broke.
SYNONYMS: ongoing, endless, ceaseless, unbroken, constant, perpetual
ANTONYMS: broken, discontinuous, interrupted
4. distribute (di stri’ byüt)
(v.) to give out in shares; to scatter or spread
Our class will _______________ leaflets
announcing the school’s fund-raising drive.
SYNONYMS: to divide, share, deal, issue
ANTONYMS: to gather, collect, hold
5. document (dä’ ky¤ ment)
(n.) a written or printed record that gives information or proof
The librarian found the old ____________ inside a book.
(v.) to give written or printed proof; to support with evidence
Writers often their sources.
SYNONYMS: (n.) a certificate, deed; (v.) to prove, establish
6. fragile (fra’ j¤l)
(adj.) easily broken or damaged, requiring special handling or care
The _________ antique was damaged during transit.
SYNONYMS: weak, frail, breakable, delicate, brittle, flimsy
ANTONYMS: sturdy, hardy, strong, rugged, tough
7. myth (mi∂)
(n.) an old story that explains why something is or how it came to be;
something imaginary
The play is based on an ancient Greek ___________.
SYNONYMS: a legend, fable, tale, fantasy, fairy tale
ANTONYM: a fact
8. reject (ri jekt’)
(v.) to refuse to accept, agree to, believe, or use
Why did you _________ the offer?
SYNONYMS: to deny, discard, junk, scrap, decline, dismiss
ANTONYMS: to take, accept, receive, welcome
9. scuffle (sku’ f¤l)
(v.) to fight or struggle closely with
A witness saw the two men ____________ in an alley.
(n.) fight or struggle
Police officers were called in to break up the _____________ .
SYNONYMS: (v.) to tussle, roughhouse, battle, brawl; (n.) a fistfight, clash
10. solitary (sä’ l¤ ter è)
(adj.) living or being alone; being the only one
The old man led a ______________ life.
SYNONYMS: single, sole, lone
ANTONYMS: sociable; several, many, numerous
11. temporary (tem’ p¤ rer è)
(adj.) lasting or used for a limited time
A blow to the head can cause a ____________ loss of memory.
SYNONYMS: short-term, passing, brief, momentary
ANTONYMS: lasting, long-lived, permanent
12. veteran (ve’ t¤ r¤n)
(n.) a former member of the armed forces; an
experienced person
The army _____________ listened attentively.
(adj.) having much experience in some job or field
The actress will play a ________________ reporter.
SYNONYMS: (adj.) expert, professional, experienced, skilled, accomplished
ANTONYMS: (n.) a beginner, newcomer, novice, rookie
For each item below, choose the word whose meaning is suggested by
the clue given. Then write the word in the space provided.
1. A roommate you have for only a month is a one.
a. continuous b. temporary c. fragile d. solitary
2. A black eye might be the result of a .
a. scuffle b. myth c. veteran d. blunder
3. To your age you might show a birth
certificate or a driver’s license.
a. distribute b. document c. cancel d. reject
4. A person who lives alone in the woods might be described as
a. continuous b. solitary c. temporary d. fragile
5. The idea that you will get warts from touching a frog is a
a. blunder b. document c. scuffle d. myth
6. If I make a serious mistake, I commit a .
a. scuffle b. document c. myth d. blunder
7. A box containing an item that can be broken easily might be
stamped “ .”
a. solitary b. temporary c. fragile d. continuous
8. A charity might food to the homeless.
a. reject b. cancel c. scuffle d. distribute
9. Something that goes on without stopping is .
a. continuous b. temporary c. solitary d. fragile
10. To refuse a gift is to it.
a. cancel b. scuffle c. distribute d. reject
11. A person who has a lot of experience at something is a .
a. blunder b. myth c. document d. veteran
12. If I call off a party, I it.
a. scuffle b. blunder c. cancel d. reject
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