This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Jan. 20, 2014.
Let’s do a practice round!
Intrepid means:
A) Prone to falling
B) Fearless, adventurous
C) Frequently found in water
D) Cautious and tentative
Vocab Practice: Intrepid
January 28, 2014 by
Behind the Scenes of Harry Potter
January 27, 2014 by
For fans of the Harry Potter novels, the name McGonagall probably brings to mind one of the series’ well-known characters, the stern but kindly Professor McGonagall.
But author J.K. Rowling borrowed her character’s name from a Scottish actor and poet, William Topaz McGonagall.
William McGonagall, author of nearly 200 execrable (see definition and hear pronunciation below) verses, is considered to be the worst poet in the English language.
Ironically, a collection of McGonagall’s autographed poems was auctioned off a few years back for a handsome sum.
It seems the legacy of William McGonagall and his infamous poetry lives on!
Cool word vocabulary question of the day: Can you think of any works of art that you would describe as “execrable”?
Execrable: Extremely bad, unpleasant or inferior.
Click to hear the pronunciation of execrable:
https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/execrable.mp3
Cool Word Challenge
January 24, 2014 by
Cool Word Challenge: Just for fun, come up with one sentence that uses both of the cool vocabulary words that you learned this week.
Here are the words again:
Intrepid: Fearless, adventurous.
Torpor: A state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy.
Submit your sentence below. The most creative ones that we receive will be published on our site!
Now That’s Some Wintertime Torpor!
January 23, 2014 by
Winter is a season that causes many of us to slow down and feel lethargic, wanting to burrow inside during those chilly months until spring.
For most bears, this torpor (see definition and hear pronunciation below) is a way to keep them going for the rest of the year.
The American black bear, for instance, can curl up and hibernate for up to 100 days.
Polar bears, which have the thickest fur of any species, don’t hibernate in the same way other bears do, but they move more slowly and rest often.
That’s not surprising, considering the natural habitats of polar bears have some of the coldest temperatures imaginable–Arctic air falls to -29 degrees in winter, and Northern Siberia can get as frigid as -92 degrees!
Cool word vocabulary question of the day: When do you think torpor can be beneficial?
Torpor: A state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy.
Click to hear the pronunciation of torpor:
Vocab Practice: Propinquity
January 22, 2014 by
This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Jan. 16, 2014.
Let’s do a practice round!
Propinquity means:
A) Physical likeness
B) Proximity, physical closeness
C) Similar tastes in culture
D) Roughly of the same age
Vocab Practice: Kerfuffle
January 21, 2014 by
This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Jan. 13, 2014.
Let’s do a practice round!
Kerfuffle means:
A) A written difference of opinion
B) A quiet huddle
C) A type of large ruffle
D) A commotion or fuss
An Intrepid Teenager Sails Alone
January 20, 2014 by
Sailing alone around the world is probably one of the most harrowing experiences. It’s something that’s usually attempted by only the most experienced explorers.
In 2010, however, an intrepid (see definition and hear pronunciation below) 14-year-old Dutch girl named Laura Dekker set out to become the youngest person to make the journey. After two years, she completed the solo trip, across 27,000 miles of ocean.
To circumnavigate the globe, Dekker faced the danger of storms, high waves and modern-day pirates all alone.
Luckily, she made it safely to the end of her voyage, to the relief of everyone who had cheered her on!
To learn more about Dekker’s adventures, go to: http://www.lauradekker.nl/English/News.html
Cool word vocabulary question of the day: Who are some of the intrepid explorers you’ve admired?
Intrepid: Fearless, adventurous.
Click to hear the pronunciation of intrepid:
https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/intrepid.mp3
Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In honor of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, consider adding your dream for a better world at: http://www.thekingcenter.org/dreams/share
Cool Word Club Challenge
January 17, 2014 by
Cool Word Challenge: Just for fun, come up with one sentence that uses both of the cool vocabulary words that you learned this week.
Here are the words again:
Kerfuffle: A commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views.
Propinquity: Proximity, physical closeness, kinship.
Submit your sentence below. The most creative ones that we receive will be published on our site!
A Little Propinquity in the Classroom
January 16, 2014 by
Everyone knows how it feels when you arrive for your first day of school. You walk into a strange classroom to find a group of people you’ve never met. It can be a little awkward at first.
For a few days, or perhaps even weeks, you miss the friends you talked with so effortlessly last year.
Then, perhaps one day during class, you share your history textbook with the girl sitting next to you or help the boy two rows behind you find his lost calculator.
With a little more time, you may begin to study together, strike up spontaneous conversations or even start to laugh at the same jokes.
Eventually, your propinquity (see definition and hear pronunciation below) to your new classmates makes them seem less like strangers and more like friends!
Cool word vocabulary question of the day: How do social media websites, such as Facebook, create virtual propinquity between family and friends?
Propinquity: Proximity, physical closeness, kinship.
Click to hear the pronunciation of propinquity:
https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/propinquity.mp3
Vocab Practice: Inure
January 15, 2014 by
This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Jan. 9, 2014.
Let’s do a practice round!
Inure means:
A) To become accustomed to something unpleasant
B) To lose one’s footing on a slippery surface
C) To feel energized rather than fatigued
D) To become the leader of a group
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