7thL19
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Vocabulary Lesson 19
Words in Context:
Coming to the United States- Tracing a Heritage
When and how did your family come to the United States? Were they here to greet the Europeans who first
landed? Did they arrive with the French in Louisiana? were they forced to come here in slavery? Did they enter
Hawaii from Korea in the late 1800s? Perhaps they fled Vietnam in 1975? Or perhaps they arrived from another
place, at another time. Finding out when and how your family first arrived can be a rewarding experience.
Read the ten vocabulary words below and decipher each word's definition based on its context within the
sentences below.
1) Access- "I don't know if you will have access to all the information you need to complete this
assignment, but I want you to do your best to discover where your family came from an why," says Mr.
Lee.
2) Accommodations- "We may have to make some accommodations, or adjustments, to the assignment if
you can't find the information, " he adds.
3) Circumnavigate- Mr. Lee briefly reminds his class of the history of people coming to the Americas,
including the Europeans' desire to circumnavigate the globe- to set out heading west and return from the
east. These explorers didn't realize that North America would get in their way.
4) Evacuate- "My parents left Cambodia when they were ordered to leave, or evacuate, Phnom Penh,"
remarks Lo.
5) Liberate- "My family came when Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia. They knew he did not want to liberate
them but that they would go to prison or die," says April.
6) Notify- "I wish you had decided to notify us earlier about this project," says Danny. "My grandparents
were here last week, and I could have talked with them if you had told us about it sooner."
7) Pleasantry- "My grandmother came from Japan, and she learned English gradually. For many years all
she could do was exchange a few pleasantries, such as 'How are you?' and 'Nice weather,'" says Rita.
8) Provision- "Perhaps I should make provision to visit my great-aunt this weekend," says Jimmy. "She
knows more than anyone else about my dad's family history. I'll call the retirement home."
9) Regime- "My family came to the United States to escape the regime that was in power in Guatemala,"
says Luiz. "That government mistreated members of my family."
10) Remorse- "When my mother left Laos, she had to leave her family behind. That decision filled her with
remorse because she was very close to them," says Jenny.
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Vocabulary Lesson 19
Scan the definitions in Column A. Then, think about how the boldface words are used in the sentences in
Column B. To complete the exercise, match each definition in Column A with the correct Vocabulary
Word from Column B. Write the letter of your choice on the line provided. Finally, write the Vocabulary
Word on the line before the definition.
COLUMN A
_____ 01. word:
v. to set free; to release from bondage or enemy
occupation
_____ 02. word:
v. to give notice; to inform
_____ 03. word:
n. the right to enter, make use of, or communicate
with; a passage or means to entering, approaching,
or using; a sudden outburst; v. to gain entrance
_____ 04. word:
n. a good- natured joke; a polite remark
_____ 05. word:
n. the act of providing; a preparation made for the
future; a requirement; [pl.] food or supplies for the
future
_____ 06. word:
v. to travel completely around a thing
_____ 07. word:
n. a system or form of government or rule; a
political or social system
_____ 08. word:
v. adjustment; convenience; compromise; room and
board; seating on a public vehicle
_____ 09. word:
n. bitter regret; a sense of guilt
_____ 10. word:
v. to empty; to withdraw; to remove for reasons of
safety; to vacate
COLUMN B
(A) "Later my mother made provision for them to come to
the United States. Those preparations were difficult to make,"
Jenny adds.
(B) "Although their accommodations here were simple, the
new housing was an improvement over the way they had lived
in Laos."
(C) "My grandparents just made their first trip back to Russia
since the Communist regime fell from power. The change in
government made them feel safe there." Nadia comments.
(D) "My great-grandfather came to the United States after
World War II because he admired the U.S. soldiers who
liberated him from the prison camp," remarks Hayley.
(E) "For a long time, we could not access information about
our relatives in Argentina," Trina says, "but now we can
communicate with them by phone or e-mail."
(F) "One of my aunts was able to notify us that my cousin
Roberto was alive and well."
(G) "My grandparents decided to flee from Cuba after Fidel
Castro came to power. They evacuated the country in 1961,"
said Ignacio.
(H) "My parents risked their lives to get here. If I complain
about my life, I usually feel remorse later. I feel guilty when I
remember what they have been through.
(I) "Yes," say Jenny. "Some of our ancestors practically
circumnavigated the globe to get here. So I feel kind of silly
for complaining about having to walk to school.
(J) "I love my grandparents, but we can exchange only a few
pleasantries since I don't know much German," says Karl.
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Vocabulary Lesson 19: Like Meanings and Opposite Meanings
Directions. For each item below, circle the letter of the choice that means the same, or about the
same, as the boldface word.
to have access to the files
D) travel around
A) brought things
to make provisions for
A) plans
B) friends
C) housing
D) peace
B) avoided using
C) the right to use
D) forgotten
pleasant accommodations
A) friends
B) living quarters
C) plans for the future
D) thoughts
a friendly regime
A) game
B) government
C) animal
D) boss
to circumnavigate the park
A) donate money to
B) investigate
C) visit
Directions. For each item below, circle the letter of the choice that means opposite, or about the
opposite, of the boldface word.
to liberate the animals
A) free
B) cage
C) purchase
D) sell
to feel remorse
A) pride and joy
B) bitter regret
C) tired
D) rested
to notify the authorities
A) recognize
B) identify with
C) refuse to tell
D) inform
to evacuate the building
A) destroy
B) rebuild
C) empty
D) fill up
to offer a pleasantry
A) friendly remark
B) rude comment
C) snack
D) invitation