The Nuances of Language

The Nuances of Language

1. List one: Positive – economical, careful, thrifty, budget-minded, prudent

                    Negative – tight, miserly, frugal, penurious, penny-                                                              pinching

        List two: Positive – score

                    Negative – dislike, resent, hate, disapprove, decry, regret,                                                  lament, deplore, oppose

        List three: Positive – curious, off the wall, outlandish, extraordinary,                                                  remarkable, noteworthy, bizarre, unusual

                      Negative – odd, weird, singular, strange, eerier

1. Self-confident/conceited: I would want to be described as self-confident because that would mean that I feel strongly about what I am doing. I would not want to be described as conceited, because then I would come off as too confident, and not listen to what others have to say.

        Assertive/pushy: I would want to be described as assertive because I         would be people would know that I am confident in what I am saying. I         would not want to be described as pushy because people would think that         I am obnoxiously assertive, and bossing people around, proving that my         opinion is the only right one.

        Firm/stubborn: I would want to be described as firm because that would         mean that people would view me as decisive and having strong values. I         would not want to be described as stubborn, because then I would be too         set on my own beliefs and not take other’s views into consideration.

        Hard worker/workaholic: I would want to be described as a hard worker                 because I would be reliable and able to get work done on time. I would not         want to be described as a workaholic because at that point all I would care         about is work. There needs to be a balance between a social life and a         work life.

        Flexible/indecisive: I would want to be described as flexible because I         would be able to accommodate situations if presented at the last minute. I         would not want to be described as indecisive because people could not         rely on me to make a decision, when needed.

        Casual/sloppy: I would want to be described as casual because not every         moment in life has to be serious. Life has to be a mix of serious and fun. I                 would not want to be described as sloppy because people who are not         organized are not easy to work with. I would want to be organized in order         to get a task done faster.

        Mature/old: I would want to be described as mature because when         someone is mature for their age stands out more than someone who is         not. I would not want to be described as old because that would mean I         know way too much for my age. Knowledge comes with experience.

1. To teach: Approval – prepare

                     Disapproval – brainwash

        Thin: Approval – small

                 Disapproval – starved

        Fussy: Approval – particular

                 Disapproval – picky

        Candid: Approval – honest

                   Disapproval – outspoken

        Stern: Approval – rigorous

                Disapproval – cruel

        Credulous: Approval – trust

                        Disapproval – naïve

        To fail: Approval – unsuccessful

                 Disapproval – ruined

1. 1. With the U.S. falling behind other industrialized nations, many college people – from chancellors to freshman – consider extracurricular activities a disappointing experience.

        2. Others, of course, regard such entertainments as exultant, cultural and         educational, and a vital element in college life.

        3. Higher education should have the courage and the idealism to widen         and ennoble life.

        4. Ours is an age of science, and one of the bases of science is         mathematics, which, regrettable, some students think of as a burden.

        5. Charles Dickens created characters from the lowest levels of the         English-speaking world, but he made these despicable people appear         likeable because he revealed their universal humanity.

        6. Dickens from his youth saw life from just above the starvation level, and         later he earned a lot of money and international fame, all his characters         were based on his poverty-stricken childhood.

1. Child: brat, runt

        Persistent: endless, unrelenting

        Willowy: easily influenced, yielding to others

        A large group: cramped, crowded

        Scholarly: nerd, geek

        Trusting: naïve, innocent

        Underachiever: disappointment, failure

        Quiet: shy, inaudible

1. Notorious: popular, well-known

        Fat: broad, solid

        Politician: leader, boss

        Old (people): wise, mature

        Fanatic: enthusiastic, interested

        Reckless: carefree, venturous

        Sot: funny, lush

        Quiet: peaceful, reserved