8thL13
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Vocabulary Lesson 13
Words in Context:
Reading, Writing, and Performing- Understanding Plot
You probably already know that one way to define the word plot is “what happens in a story.” That is a good,
basic definition as far as it goes, but plot is much more than that. Plot always involves some kind of conflict or
tension- something that will make us want to reading or watching to find out what will happen. Some plots are
fairly basic, while others are highly complicated. Regardless, a plot must have an interesting and believable
conflict to keep the reader or viewer involved.
Read the ten vocabulary words below and decipher each word's definition based on its context within the
sentences below.
1) Acknowledge- Many writers acknowledge that they don’t get their plots from thin air. They freely admit
that they borrow ideas for plots from a variety of places, such as news stories or experiences their
friends have had.
2) Adversary- Many plots concern a struggle between a hero and his or her adversary.
3) Elude- Sometimes a plot may involve the hero’s attempt to elude enemies. Often, the hero escapes after
being pursued through dangerous and unfamiliar territory.
4) Exploit- The hero’s daring escape may be just one exploit in a series of exciting adventures.
5) Homage- Sometimes a writer or filmmaker pays homage to another artist by using something from that
artist’s work as part of the plot in his or her own work. This is an act of respect, not an act of theft.
6) Implement- Borrowing an idea, after all, is easy; true artistry is needed to implement that idea in an
original, exciting way.
7) Objective- Different writers could borrow the same idea and each use it in a very different way. It all
depends on the writer’s objective or goal.
8) Precedent- A plot concerning the passage from childhood to adulthood is not without precedent. Many
writers have told stories of growing up before.
9) Surmount- Even in plots that involve events in ordinary, everyday life, the main character usually has
some obstacle to surmount or problem to overcome.
10) Wrangle- Plots often involve commonplace struggles- a teenager’s attempt to wrangle, or argue, with
parents about the family car for Saturday night or a senior’s decision about where to attend college.
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Vocabulary Lesson 13
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:
n. tool; instrument; v. to carry out; accomplish; fulfill
_____ 02. word:
v. to overcome (a difficulty); to rise above; to be above
or on top of
_____ 03. word:
n. an opponent; an enemy
_____ 04. word:
n. a noisy quarrel or brawl; v. to quarrel or bicker; to win
or obtain by argument; to herd (livestock)
_____ 05. word:
n. something done or given to show respect or honor; an
act of allegiance
_____ 06. word:
n. an act that serves as an example for later acts
_____ 07. word:
v. to admit; to recognize the rights or authority of; to
express thanks for
_____ 08. word:
adj. real, true; concerned with realities and not the
thinking of the person; detached and without prejudice;
n. a purpose, something aimed for
_____ 09. word:
v. to escape from or avoid; to escape the understanding
of
_____ 10. word:
n. a bold or brilliant act; v. to use to full advantage; to
make unfair use of
COLUMN B
(A) The conflict in a plot may involve a minor wrangle
between two characters or a major feud like the one between
the Montagues and the Capulets in Romeo and Juliet.
(B) A common plot in a mystery centers on a lost murder
weapon; the police and the villain compete in a feverish search
for the implement of foul play.
(C) Sometimes the main character’s adversary is not another
human being. The opponent might be a natural force, such as a
flood or a dust storm.
(D) Sometimes the conflict in a plot is between two groups of
people. Often, one group exploits the other by using it for
selfish reasons.
(E) A good plot might involve a character whose memories of
a summer in Rome elude her. She is haunted by the idea that
something terrible happened there, but she can’t quiet
remember.
(F) Conflict might result from characters’ failure to
acknowledge the truth about themselves. They simply will not
admit that they have made mistakes.
(G) Perhaps characters cannot be objective about themselves.
Sometimes, it is difficult for people to see themselves
realistically.
(H) A plot might follow a lawyer’s search for a legal
precedent that will allow her to call a chimpanzee to the
stand. She needs to convince the judge that the courts have
previously recognized evidence given by apes.
(I) Another plot line might involve a musician who is planning
a concert to pay homage to a great composer when he learns a
terrible truth and loses respect for his former idol.
(J) Conflicts in stories are not always resolved, but usually the
main characters surmount their difficulties before the story
ends.
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Vocabulary Lesson 13 Sentence Completion
Directions. For each of the following items, circle the letter of the choice that best completes the
meaning of the sentence or sentences.
11) Film directors often
their debuts to other
filmmakers by paying
to them through scenes in
their movies.
(A) elude…precedent
(B) acknowledge…homage
(C) surmount…adversary
(D) exploit…precedent
(E) wrangle…homage
12) Film directors and screenwriters sometimes
, disagreeing over the best approach to
developing the plot.
(A) elude
(B) exploit
(C) surmount
(D) acknowledge
(E) wrangle
13) In an interesting twist in some films, the hero and
his
find that they are trapped together and must
cooperate to
some obstacle.
(A) exploit…wrangle
(B) exploit…surmount
(C) adversary…surmount
(D) precedent…wrangle
(E) implement…exploit
14) Often a filmmaker will establish
in a
film that later filmmakers
in their own
work.
(A) an exploit…acknowledge
(B) an implement…elude
(C) an adversary…surmount
(D) a precedent…implement
(E) a homage…exploit
15) A director may
a variety of techniques to
develop a believable character.
(A) implement
(B) elude
(C) confuse
(D) surmount
(E) wrangle
16) Before characters can solve a problem, they must
that there is a problem.
(A) elude
(B) acknowledge
(C) exploit
(D) surmount
(E) wrangle
17) The characters next have to imagine how to
the problem. Overcoming a problem is often more
difficult than identifying it.
(A) wrangle
(B) exploit
(C) surmount
(D) elude
(E) acknowledge
18) Often the heroes in adventure films
their
enemies in the car-chase scene. Other
might
involve scaling tall buildings or snow-skiing down
treacherous mountain slopes.
(A) implement…adversaries
(B) exploit…wrangles
(C) surmount…objectives
(D) elude…exploits
(E) acknowledge…implements
19) Actors have to be
about any real life
character they play. To give proper
,
sincerity, and realism to characters, they must
research them and avoid letting their opinions slant
how to play the role.
(A) acknowledge…homage
(B) objective…homage
(C) objective…homage
(D) acknowledge…adversary
(E) implementing…homage
20) Do filmmakers
audiences’ emotions when
they used clichéd, tear-jerking situations instead of
challenging, original plots in their films?
(A) wrangle
(B) elude
(C) implement
(D) acknowledge
(E) exploit