Chapter 1 • Context Clues The Trial The attorney for the defense stood before the jury. The courtroom was hushed. The judge leaned forward, waiting for the gray-suited young lawyer to speak. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, “Ms. Bolton has been accused of driving without a license. The fact is, she has a driver’s license, which permits her to drive a car. She merely left it home on the day a police officer stopped her. Because of this small mistake, she has been put through a terrible ordeal, including a police investigation with the police searching for the facts.” “If this trial results in a conviction and Ms. Bolton loses her license, she will be unable to continue the business enterprise she recently started: a driving service for the disabled. Would that be justice? Would it be fair to anyone? No, it would be a truly sad circumstance, a truly unfortunate state of affairs. Ms. Bolton is a careful driver who is mindful of the occupants in her car. These people, as well as Ms. Bolton, would be hurt by this decision. “Driving is a privilege, not a right. Not everyone deserves it. People who misuse a privilege should have it taken from them. Ms. Bolton has not misused this privilege. “Justice is not about popularity. If you don’t like me because I have been loud in my objections during this trial, don’t take it out on Ms. Bolton. She is a good citizen whose business is just on the threshold of success. She is on the brink of making her enterprise pay off. When you go into the jury room for your conference at the end of this court session, please vote not guilty.” Vocabulary Words Vocabulary Building Strategy Use Context Clues You can find the meaning of an unfamiliar noun by thinking about all the meanings in the noun’s context. All the words and sentences near the noun make up its context. You can also think about the meaning of the passage as a whole. This will help you determine a noun’s meaning. Word Learning Tip! A noun names a person, a place, a thing, a quality, or an idea. The main noun is usually the subject of the sentence and tells who or what the sentence is about. Nouns may be singular or plural. Most plural nouns end in -s. You can use these clues to find the meaning of many unknown words. attorney circumstance conference conviction enterprise investigation justice license objection occupant ordeal popularity privilege session threshold LESSON Nouns to Know 1 Read Words in Context 6 Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources Definition Word 1. a difficult and painful experience ________________________________________ 2. a careful search for facts ________________________________________ 3. fair treatment ________________________________________ 4. a statement or feeling of dislike or disapproval ________________________________________ 5. being well-liked or having lots of friends ________________________________________ 6. a document giving official permission permission to do something or own something ________________________________________ 7. a meeting of a group to discuss work; a period of time set aside to work on a specific activity ________________________________________ 8. the beginning point of something ________________________________________ 9. comes after one is found guilty in a trial ________________________________________ 10. someone who fills a position or lives in a place ________________________________________ Lesson 1 • Nouns to Know Directions Find the vocabulary word that fits each definition below. Write it on the line. You may use the glossary at the back of the book to help you. attorney circumstance conference conviction enterprise investigation justice license objection occupant ordeal popularity privilege session threshold Lesson 1 • Nouns to Know LESSON Nouns to Know 1 Connect Words and Meanings 7 Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1 • Context Clues Directions Write the letter of the correct definition in the blank before each word. You may use the glossary or a dictionary to help you. 11. ________ circumstance A. a special right or advantage 12. ________ conference B. a lawyer 13. ________ attorney C. an event, situation, or fact 14. ________ privilege D. a project or business venture 15. ________ enterprise E. a formal meeting for discussion Directions Use your knowledge of word meanings to complete each item below. 16. This word tells the result of a jury finding a defendant guilty but it also means a strong belief in something. 17. This word is something a lawyer might say but it is also an expression of dislike or disapproval. 18. This word can refer to the beginning of something but it can also mean a doorway. 19. This word can refer to a business or project but it also means an adventurous spirit or gumption. 20. You would get this if you wanted to drive a car or own a dog. You Be the Jury! Imagine that you are a member of the jury in Ms. Bolton’s case. You are to discuss the case in the jury room. Jot down some facts of the case and your opinions. (Make up more facts if you wish!) Use at least four vocabulary words and underline them. attorney circumstance conference conviction enterprise investigation justice license objection occupant ordeal popularity privilege session threshold 8 LESSON Nouns to Know 1 Connect More Words and Meanings Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources Directions Judge Solomon Davidson printed out his speech this morning but, unluckily, at lunchtime he got ketchup stains all over the paper. The blanks show where the ketchup stains are. Choose the word that fits in each sentence. Write your answer in the blank. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, ever since I got my (1) (enterprise, license, justice) to practice law as an (2) (attorney, occupant, investigation) in this great state, I have been deeply concerned with issues of fairness and rightness—that is, of simple (3) (justice, conference, popularity). Today, as the (4) (session, occupant, threshold) of this bench in this courtroom, I would like to open this (5) (ordeal, circumstance, session) of the court with a reminder to you. It is your duty to be jurors, but it is also a special (6) (privilege, conviction, license) of our democracy, which you should greatly value. You should not view it as a painful (7) (ordeal, investigation, objection) you want to get over with. Remember, this trial began only after a long (8) (investigation, conference, privilege) by the police, who examined and questioned every aspect of the case. Every little fact and event—every (9)_________________________ (circumstance, objection, enterprise) no matter how small—may hold the key to this case. In the jury room, take all the time you need to discuss every aspect of this case fully. You are on the (10) (threshold, conviction, justice) of making a decision that will change someone’s life. Act wisely. Lesson 1 • Nouns to Know attorney circumstance conference conviction enterprise investigation justice license objection occupant ordeal popularity privilege session threshold 9 LESSON Nouns to Know 1 Use Words in Context Play a Courtroom Scene Work with four other students. Invent a court case you think could happen or is imaginary. Then improvise a scene in which the five of you play the roles of attorney, judge, accused person, witness, and juror. Include in your script five or more of your vocabulary words. Of course, use other nouns as well. Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1 • Context Clues Directions Help the cartoonist complete the comic strip. Choose a vocabulary word to fit in each blank. Write your answers on the numbered lines under the comic strip. Be a Cartoonist Make up a comic strip of your own with three or more frames. Try to use some of the vocabulary words you did not use above. Your cartoon can be on any subject. 1. ________________________________ 2. ________________________________ 3. ________________________________ 4. ________________________________ 5. ________________________________ 6. ________________________________ 7. ________________________________ 8. ________________________________ 9. ________________________________ 10. ________________________________ attorney circumstance conference conviction enterprise investigation justice license objection occupant ordeal popularity privilege session threshold Yes, and finding the thief was quite a painful (3) . (4) , Your Honor! He cannot call my client a thief, since there has been no (5) . My client has not been found guilty. Let’s just say this defendant isn’t going to win any (7) contests with the police. It looks like they’re on the (9) of an argument! I want to see both lawyers in my chambers for a (10) immediately. Your Honor, this is not a fair trial! This is not (8) ! The (6) for the defense is right. Officer Smith, you made a full (2) of the case? The court is now in (1) . 10 LESSON Nouns to Know 1 Put Words Into Action Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources Lesson 1 • Nouns to Know attorney circumstance conference conviction enterprise investigation justice license objection occupant ordeal popularity privilege session threshold Plurals and More Plurals Continue Charmaine’s notes about the trial. Include as many vocabulary words as you can in their plural forms. Use your imagination to picture what happens. The plural of a noun is the form it takes when it refers to two or more items. Kind of Noun How to Form Plural most nouns add -s nouns ending in s, z, x, sh, or ch add -es nouns ending in a consonant changes y to i and followed by y add -es nouns ending in a vowel followed by y add -s Directions Charmaine is sitting in a courtroom, watching how trials work. She tries to write a description of what she saw. To help her, write the correct vocabulary word in the blank at the left to replace each of the boldface descriptions. Use the word in its plural form. 1. At a trial it is important for the jury to hear about all the events that relate to and play a role in the case. 2. I saw one trial where the defendant had already had two decisions of guilty in the past. 3. I noticed that some lawyers stand up to raise statements of disagreement, but others do so sitting down. 4. I believe that being a lawyer is one of the greatest special advantages a person in our democracy can have. 5. The judge kept calling the lawyers up to his bench for private meetings for discussion. 6. The lawyers did not look very happy after these meetings. L e a r n More! 11 LESSON Nouns to Know 1 Review and Extend Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources Directions Choose the word that best fits in each sentence. Write it on the line. 1. One year after starting her business, she found herself on the (enterprise, threshold, session) of success. 2. To gain (privilege, ordeal, popularity) with others, be nice to them and show an interest in things they like. 3. The (attorney, objection, investigation) at the defendant’s table was dressed in a gray suit and red tie. 4. The four partners held a (conviction, circumstance, conference) to decide what to name their company. 5. The test had been such a painful (investigation, license, ordeal), she could hardly believe she got an A. 6. The suspect asked the police officer, “Am I under (license, investigation, attorney) for the crime?” 7. Opening a bookstore on this street corner would be a wonderful new (popularity, conviction, enterprise). 8. In the judge’s opinion, (justice, session, objection) was a more important value than popularity. 9. Lia was given the (occupant, privilege, circumstance) of raising the flag every morning. 10. The teacher held a special after-school (privilege, enterprise, session) for students who wanted to catch up on work they had missed. Chapter 1 • Context Clues 12 LESSON Nouns to Know 1 Check Your Mastery Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources Lesson 2 • Verbs to Know First Contact What if you were on the first spaceship ever to encounter life on another planet? Suppose you are a reporter who has accompanied the crew on their journey. You go with them because you want to get a good story, so what do you do? You watch and listen to everything that goes on; you try to overhear secret conversations. When the captain tells you she can’t answer one of your questions, you persist by asking it again and again. The captain dominates the ship: she is the boss; her word is law. But she appreciates or understands the fact that your job is to find out things and report them to the public. The ship lands on a hot, dry planet whose blazing sun scorches the sandy red land. “I need your advice. What do you recommend that we do?” the captain asks her chief scientist. “The plan I propose is that we go outside and scout around,” the scientist says. “I suggest we do this to determine whether or not there’s life out there.” “If we find intelligent beings, we must be careful not to interfere with their way of life. We can’t disturb things,” the captain says. “And when the scouts return, we must isolate them. We have to separate them in case they have caught any germs.” The captain forms a scouting party—and she asks you to join it! Soon you find yourself in a spacesuit, walking on soft, hot sand. You experience two feelings that you would like to quench: thirst and curiosity. Can you satisfy them? You walk and walk. “There’s nothing here,” one of the scouts says in despair. “Don’t worry,” you say, trying to console him. “At least it doesn’t look dangerous.” Then, as you come to the top of the hill, your heart pounds wildly and your interest suddenly revives. You feel renewed excitement. “Look!” you cry. “Look at that group of huts below!” Vocabulary Building Strategy Use Context Clues Use the context—the surrounding words and phrases–-to determine the meaning of a verb. Ask yourself “What is happening? What action is being performed? What state of being, or feeling, is being described?” Look at the nouns and the other words in the sentence to answer your questions. accompany appreciate console determine dominate encounter interfere isolate overhear persist propose quench recommend revive scorch Vocabulary Words Word Learning Tip! A verb is a word that shows an action, a state of being, or a feeling. A verb often follows the noun or pronoun. Common verb endings include -s, -es, and -ing. Sometimes, a verb follows a helping word such as do, can, could, might, would, may, or shall. LESSON Verbs to Know 2 Read Words in Context 13 Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1 • Context Clues Directions Read each definition below. Circle the word that matches each definition. You may use your dictionary or the glossary to help you. 1. to go somewhere with someone encounter overhear accompany 2. to burn; to dry or discolor using heat quench scorch isolate 3. to keep on doing something in spite of warnings or obstacles persist determine appreciate 4. to put out (as fire with water); to satisfy persist scorch quench 5. to come upon; to meet, especially unexpectedly recommend encounter dominate 6. to separate something from everything else; to keep things separate dominate isolate interfere 7. to suggest or present a plan propose console revive 8. to hear something not meant for your ears persist recommend overhear accompany appreciate console determine dominate encounter interfere isolate overhear persist propose quench recommend revive scorch 14 LESSON Verbs to Know 2 Connect Words and Meanings Continued on next page Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources Lesson 2 • Verbs to Know accompany appreciate console determine dominate encounter interfere isolate overhear persist propose quench recommend revive scorch Write Examples Imagine that you are the first human to contact intelligent beings from another planet. You are teaching the space creatures English. You want to teach them the verbs on the vocabulary list. It just so happens that these space creatures learn best when they are given examples. They like to visualize how each new word would be used in a specific earthly situation. Pick three verbs and explain each by writing two or more examples showing how earthlings might use the word. Directions Continue the activity. Read each definition below. Circle the word that matches each definition. You may use your dictionary or the glossary to help you. 9. to value or think well of; to understand accompany appreciate encounter 10. to find out for certain; to decide console overhear determine 11. to control or rule; to be the most important accompany dominate isolate 12. to come back to life; to give new strength and freshness to revive quench recommend 13. to get involved in a situation that has nothing to do with you; to get in the way propose appreciate interfere 14. to suggest or advise encounter scorch recommend 15. to comfort; to ease the sadness or disappointment of scorch console appreciate LESSON Verbs to Know 2 Connect More Words and Meanings 15 Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources