A Zephyr and the US Flag…

zephyr-cool-words-word-of-the-day

When flying the flag of the United States of America, a number of traditions should be followed to ensure that it is treated with respect.

For example, it should never be flown upside down—except as a distress signal.

When the flag is displayed from a flagpole, it should be placed above other flags.

Most people would agree that the US flag is a beautiful sight, especially when it billows in a zephyr (see definition and hear pronunciation below).

To learn more about flag etiquette, go to: www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html

Cool word question of the day: Can you think of other objects that might billow in a zephyr?

Zephyr: A gentle breeze.

Click here to hear a pronunciation of zephyr.

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/zephyr.mp3

 

Cool Word Challenge: Verbose and Sylvan

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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:

Verbose: Wordy; using more words than necessary.

Sylvan: Relating to a wooded area or forest.

Submit your sentence below. The most creative ones that we receive will be published on our site!

What a Sylvan Setting!

sylvan-cool-vocabulary-words

When is the last time you visited a forest?

Plenty of places have lots of trees. But you can’t really call it a forest unless the treetops cover at least 60% of that area, according to some forest ecologists.

Each year, millions of Americans visit National Forests in the US. These sylvan (see definition and hear pronunciation below) areas are great for hiking, camping or just taking in the beautiful scenery.

So, the next time you want a change of pace, you may want to check out a forest. It’s a great place to explore nature!

To learn more about forests, go to: http://www.americanforests.org/discover-forests/tree-facts/

Cool word question of the day: Can you think of other sylvan areas besides forests?

Sylvan: Relating to a wooded area or forest.

Click here to hear a pronunciation of sylvan.

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/sylvan.mp3

Vocab Practice: Bovine

bovine-vocabulary-practice-test-online

This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Jan. 29, 2015.

Let’s do a practice round!

Bovine means:

A) Reddish in color
B) Covered in fur
C) Extremely large
D) Relating to cattle

VIEW ANSWER HERE

Vocab Practice: Hew

hew-vocabulary-practice-test-online

This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Jan. 26, 2015.

Let’s do a practice round!

Hew means:

A) To carry
B) To burn
C) To chop
D) To stack

VIEW ANSWER HERE

Is That a Little Too Verbose?

verbose-cool-vocabulary-words

When you sit down to write a report, it’s a good feeling when the words flow easily.

You have plenty of ideas and tap out one crisply written sentence after another on your keyboard.

After you finish that first draft, here’s a fun exercise to try: Check the length of your sentences.

What’s the optimal number of words for each sentence? It depends. You need to consider your audience and the purpose of your writing.

For optimal readability, most writing experts recommend an average sentence length of 15 to 30 words. Otherwise, your writing may be too verbose (see definition and hear pronunciation below).

It also helps to vary the length of your sentences. That keeps your writing interesting!

Cool word question of the day: What’s your reaction when you read a passage or hear a speech that’s too verbose?

Verbose: Wordy; using more words than necessary.

Click here to hear a pronunciation of verbose.

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/verbose.mp3

Cool Word Challenge: Hew and Bovine

cool-word-challenge-hew-bovine

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:

Hew: To chop; strike forcibly with an ax.

Bovine: Relating to cattle; having traits, such as being slow-moving, commonly associated with cows.

Submit your sentence below. The most creative ones that we receive will be published on our site!

Hey, You Bovine Beauty!

bovine-cool-vocabulary-words

When you drink a glass of milk, do you ever give much thought to the cow that produced it?

There are thousands of dairy farms operating in the US. But if you’ve never seen a cow in person, this animal may seem a bit mysterious.

Here are some basic facts:

The average weight of a dairy cow is about 1,400 pounds.

Believe it or not, a single cow can produce more than six gallons of milk per day.

Over the course of her lifetime, a single cow can actually produce more than 350,000 glasses of milk.

That’s a lot of milk for just one of these bovine (see definition and hear pronunciation below) beauties!

For more fun dairy facts, go to: http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/faen/dairy%20facts.html

Cool word question of the day: What do you think are some of the most widely recognized bovine characteristics?

Bovine: Relating to cattle; having traits, such as being slow-moving, commonly associated with cows.

Click here to hear a pronunciation of bovine.

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/bovine.mp3

Vocab Practice: Effulgent

Effulgent-vocabulary-practice-test-onlineThis word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Jan. 22, 2015.

Let’s do a practice round!

Effulgent means:

A) Effortless
B) Radiant
C) Far away
D) Excessive

VIEW ANSWER HERE

Vocab Practice: Extant

extant-vocabulary-practice-test-online

This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Jan. 19, 2015.

Let’s do a practice round!

Extant means:

A) Still existing
B) Related to an exterior
C) Marked by fame
D) Culturally diverse

VIEW ANSWER HERE