Vocabulary Workshop 1

As-pire (Verb) – an action word Meaning - To aspire is to want to do or be

something Examples

1. I aspire to become a professional basketball player.

2. I aspire to pass all of my classes this year.

3. I aspired to finish middle school.4. I have aspirations of getting a college

degree!

What does someone in law school aspire to be?◦ Someone in law school aspires to be…

What does someone in medical school aspire to do?◦ Someone in medical school aspires to be…

If Jason practices free-throws everyday, what do you think his aspirations are?◦ Jason’s aspirations are likely…

What is something that you aspire to do or be?◦ Something that I aspire to (do/be) is…

Cir-cum-stan-ces (Noun) – a person, place, or thing Meaning – Circumstances are facts and conditions

that affect a situation. Examples

1. A circumstance that might cause me to miss school is being sick.

2. A circumstance that might make me happy is if I get good grades.

3. Under the circumstances of a difficult class, I will have to study very hard.

What circumstances might cause you to laugh very loudly?◦ One circumstance that might cause me to laugh

very loudly is if… Under what circumstances would you get

angry?◦ In my opinion, a circumstance that would get me

angry is if… What circumstances would you expect to

find if you went camping in the forest?◦ If I went camping in the forest, I would expect

very ______________ circumstances.

Dras-tic (adjective) – a describing word Meaning – Drastic means extreme and

sudden. Examples

1. A drastic change for me would be moving to a new school.

2. Graduating from high school will have a drastic effect of my life.

3. A drastic punishment for forgetting my homework would be getting expelled.

What would be a drastic change in your life?◦ A drastic change in my life would be if…

What would be a drastic thing to do if you got mad at a friend?◦ One drastic reaction if I was mad at a friend would

be to… What would be a drastic punishment for

coming to class late?◦ A drastic punishment for coming to class late

would be…

Sig-nif-i-cant (adjective) – a describing word Meaning – Significant means important and

meaningful. Examples

1. A significant part of my grade will depend on my effort.

2. My family is a significant part of my life.3. The significance of this class, is that it will help

me to do well in school.

What do you think is the most significant meal of the day?◦ In my opinion _____________ is the most significant

meal of the day. Who is the most significant person in your

life?◦ In my opinion, ________________ is the most

significant person in my life. What is the significance of knowing how to

read well?◦ The significance of knowing how to read well is

that…

Ur-gent (Adjective) – a describing word Meaning – Something that is urgent, is very

important and needs to be dealt with immediately.

Examples 1. Homelessness is an urgent problem that must

be solved.2. When something is urgent, I call for help.3. When the man called for a nurse, I could hear

the urgency in his voice.4. If you get an urgent message, you should call

back right away.

How would you talk to somebody if you had an urgent message?◦ If I had an urgent message for somebody I would

talk to them by… Who would you call if there was an urgent

problem?◦ I would call ________________ if there was an urgent

problem.

An-guish (noun) – a person, place, or thing Meaning – A strong feeling of misery or distress Examples

1. A hard test might cause student anguish.2. Some people cope with anguish by talking with

their friends.

What might cause a teenager anguish?◦ Something that might cause a teenager anguish

is…

How can a teenager cope with anguish?◦ In my opinion, one way a teenager can cope with

anguish is to…

Co-mmit-ted (adjective) – a describing word Meaning – dedicated; serious about something Examples

1. Good students are committed to getting good grades.

2. Good friends are committed to each other.

What is something that teachers are committed to?◦ Something that teachers are committed to is…

What is something that a teenager might be committed to?◦ In my opinion, something that a teenager might

be committed to is…

Fran-tic (adjective) – a describing word Meaning – done with great fear Examples

1. I would be frantic if I was swimming and saw a shark in the water.

2. If there is a fire, it is important not to become frantic.

Why is it important not to become frantic if there is a fire?◦ In my opinion, it is important not to become

frantic if there is a fire because…

In-tent (adjective) – a describing word Meaning – to be determined to do something Examples

1. I am intent on getting good grades this year.2. The football player was intent on scoring a

touchdown. (noun) – a person, place, or thing Meaning – something that you are determined to do Examples

1. My intent is to get good grades this year.2. The football player’s intent was to score a

touchdown.

What is something that a doctor might be intent on doing?◦ A doctor might be intent on…

What might be a good student’s intent?◦ A good student’s intent might be to…

Per-spec-tive (noun) – a person, place, or thing Meaning – A point of view Examples

1. From my perspective, I did not do anything wrong.

2. The perspective from an airplane is very different from the perspective on the ground.

Why is it important to understand different perspectives if somebody has an argument?◦ In my opinion, it is important to understand

different perspectives if there is an argument because…

De-vot-ed (adjective) – a describing word Meaning – giving your time to something Examples

1. Boyfriends and girlfriends should be devoted to each other.

2. The loyal dog was devoted to his master.

Why should teenagers be devoted to their parents?◦ In my opinion, teenagers should be devoted to

their parents because…

What might happen if a boy is not devoted to his girlfriend?◦ If a boy is not devoted to his girlfriend…