Student Instructions |
Name __________________________________ |
Confusing the Customers
Below are some useful words to know. Using a dictionary for help, match the words on the left with the definitions on the right.
______ 1. |
candor |
a. |
difficult, strenuous |
______ 2. |
arduous |
b. |
nonsense |
______ 3. |
negligible |
c. |
to chatter or babble |
______ 4. |
malign |
d. |
frankness, openness, sincerity |
______ 5. |
quibble |
e. |
to silence, suppress, or crush |
______ 6. |
rapture |
f. |
to speak unfavorably about, slander |
______ 7. |
flummoxed |
g. |
full of great joy or delight |
______ 8. |
squelch |
h. |
confused, perplexed |
______ 9. |
balderdash |
i. |
small, trifling, unimportant |
______ 10. |
prattle |
j. |
to argue over petty or irrelevant things |
Read the story that follows and fill in the blanks with the appropriate words (or form of the words) from the list above. One word is used twice, the rest of them only once.
Confusing the Customers
Gilda worked part-time at Hot Dogs and Hamburgers “R” Us. She was a hard worker who
always showed up on time, and she took her job very seriously. She got along with everyone—
except for the customers. Gilda’s boss, Mr. Shellingwellington, called her into his office.
“I have a serious problem with your performance,” he said. Gilda looked (1) ______________.
She asked if she were getting fired.
“No,” said Mr. Shellingwellington. “Not yet. But you are going to have to do something about
the way you talk to customers. They are calling you snooty and rude.”
“That’s ridiculous!” cried Gilda. “They are (2)_________________ my good name. You know
that their comments are complete (3)_________________.”
“Complete what?” asked Mr. Shellingwellington.
“Never mind,” said Gilda.
“See, Gilda, that’s one of the problems that the customers have been complaining about. You
use weird words that they don’t understand.”
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Student Instructions |
Name __________________________________ |
Confusing the Customers, Continued
Gilda was mad. “So, am I supposed to (4)_________________on and on about nothing instead?”
“Are you supposed to what?” asked Mr. Shellingwellington. “Never mind,” said Gilda.
Mr. Shellingwellington told Gilda she would have to (5)_________________ her habit of using words their customers didn’t understand. Then they wouldn’t think she was snooty and rude. Gilda took a deep breath. She was fuming inside, but she told her boss that she appreciated his
(6)_________________ and said that she would try to improve.
She went to her station, and tried to smile, but she was worried. Then, a customer came up to the counter and ordered lunch. After she took the order, Gilda began to cheerily announce, as she always did, “We are most appreciative of your patronage.” But then she stopped and changed her words. “Thank you,” she said simply, and handed him his change.
He looked down at the two pennies. “I don’t like to (7)_________________ , but I should receive three cents change, not two. One penny may be a (an)(8)_________________ amount to some, but I work hard for a living, working many hours at a (an) (9)_________________ job that exhausts me. I do not relish the idea of thoughtlessly disposing of any monetary amount.”
Gilda listened to him and smiled. “What kind of job was that?” she asked.
He repeated himself. “A (An) (10) _________________ job.”
Gilda smiled and sighed with (11)_________________. Now “Would you mind lingering for a moment?” she asked. “I have to vacate the premises, please!”
Gilda marched off to find Mr. Shellingwellington and tell him
Then she was going to sit right down with this customer and
She was sure they would have a lot to talk about.
Bonus. Write your own story using all 10 of the vocabulary words.
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Student Instructions |
Name __________________________________ |
Supporting What You Say
One of the mistakes people often make when writing or speaking on a subject important to them is not supporting what they say. They will say something like Harold did in a letter to the editor of the local newspaper:
I think fast food restaurants should be outlawed in this town. Our city council should get on the ball and get rid of them. I hate them.
Harold definitely makes a point. However, he doesn’t give any reasons why anyone should agree with him. Here’s how he could make his point more effectively:
I think fast food restaurants should be outlawed in this town. First of all, most of the food in such restaurants is not healthy for our citizens to eat. Recent studies show that more and more children are overweight, and that is partly because of the fast food they eat, which is high in fat and calories. Getting rid of these restaurants would force citizens, including children, to have healthier eating habits.
Second, fast food restaurants take away our town’s individuality. With a string of fast food restaurants, our town looks like every other town of its size in America. Wouldn’t it be much nicer to have a town with locally owned restaurants, with character? Wouldn’t it be nice to be unique?
Finally, getting rid of fast food restaurants would force people to stay at home more and eat. Young people would start learning how to cook again. Family members would talk to one another while preparing dinner. They would have family meals, thus strengthening family bonds and communication.
It’s clear that getting rid of fast food restaurants would have a positive effect on our community. I urge our city council to investigate this matter and to take action to improve the well-being of all who live here.
This second version supports Harold’s position with three clear points:
“I will not eat oysters.
I want my food dead—not sick, not wounded—dead.“
—Woody Allen
are not healthy.
take away a town’s individuality.
of fast food restaurants would strengthen families.
you agree that these points are reasonable or smart is another altogether!)
(continued)
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Supporting What You Say, continued
Practice coming up with ways to support a statement. Even though some of the statements below are rather ridiculous, see if you can come up with three points that support each. (Whenever you are trying to make a point, it’s a good idea to have at least three things that support your
position.)
Remember, you don’t have to agree, personally, with the points you are making, below.
1.Subject: Fish make much better pets than cats. List three points that support this statement.
2.Subject: People should be required to go to school until age 30. List three points that support this statement.
3.Subject: Children should watch television for at least eight hours a day. List three points that support this statement.
4.Subject: Children should not be allowed to watch television at all. List three points that support this statement.
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