Academic Vocabulary: Academic Words - Olsen Amy E. 2012

Chapter 13. World History

Mongolia Explored

Day 1

On our arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. we were given an orientation. We learned about the multitude of problems the country has faced in truing to be an independent nation while dealing with two large neighbors: China and Russia. China ruled Mongolia from 1691 to 1911. when the country declared its independence. Russia offered its assistance to the newly formed country. Unfortunately, the strong com­munist government of the Soviet Union took over running the country until 1991. Now the country has established itself as a democracy. This is going to be an exciting three weeks as our class explores the history of Mongolia.

Day2

We are spending the night in gers, the round felt tents of the nomadic Mongolian people. A ger (a qurt in Russian) can be built in about an hour, and it is easily portable bq camel or oxen. The Mongolian people have traditionally moved around the country with their herds looking for pasture land, so the ger makes for a sensible type of housing. We learned how important animals are to Mongolian life. Goats are important due to their soft hair, known as cashmere, which is made into products like blankets and shirts that are among one of the main items Mongolia exports. One popular saqing here is that "Mongols are born on horseback.” Horse racing is one of the three sports we will see at the Nadam festival, along with wrestling and archen.,. These sports are referred to as “the three manly games" though women now also participate in the riding and archery competitions. Estimates put the history of the games back to 3000 B. C., when nomadic tribes would meet in the summer to demonstrate their shooting and riding skills. We will also [j€t to tn., mutton, a Mongolian staple, cooked in the traditional fashion with hot stones in a pot along with water, onions, and spices. Our guide was able to procure the sheep from a local family who will show us how to make the dish. I can't wait to taste it.

Day3

Today we arrived in Karakorum, the site of the ancient capital of Mongolia. We learned about Genghis Khan, the venerated ruler of the Mongolian people. After his father was poisoned by rivals, Temujin, who was around nine qears old, was left to die in the cold. He survived the winter and vowed revenge.

He found allies and began raiding neighboring tribes. He restored the sheep and horses that had been taken from | him on his father's death. He continued conquering rival tribes, and at thirty he was the acknowledged leader of the region.

In 1206, he took the name Genghis Khan (meaning great king o or leader). He was a fierce warrior known for showing no mercy t to those who opposed him. After his death in 1227, his son | Ogodei used the taxes levied on conquered lands to build a grand capital at Karakorum. The affluence of the Mongol Empire was evident in the lavish palaces and fountains found in the citq. The power of the Mongol Empire began to wane after the death of Genghis Khan's grandson Kublai Khan in 1294. The empire had become too big to keep united, and tribes began to fight with each other. In 1368, Chinese rebels burnt Karakorum leaving but a few stones as reminders of the empire's great past. Still posterity remembers Genghis Khan as the man who united Mongolia.

The Mongol Empire contained the largest area of connected land at any time in history. The territory, stretched from Korea to Hungary, and into China, Iran, and Iraq. I'm sure that in the annals of history, the achievements of Genghis Khan and his descendents will not soon be forgotten.

Predicting

For each set, write the definition on the line next to the word to which it belongs. If you are unsure, re­turn to the reading on page 80, and underline any context clues you find. After you've made your predic­tions, check your answers against the Word List on page 85. Place a checkmark in the box next to each word whose definition you missed. These are the words you'll want to study closely.

Set One

sends overseas

regarded with respect

the quality of being numerous

wandering

to obtain

□ 1. multitude (line 3)

□ 2. nomadic (line 18)

□ 3. exports (line 30)

□ 4. procure (line 40)

□ 5. venerated (line 51)

Set Two

to decrease

future generations

imposed

wealth

historical events in general

□ 6. levied (line 62)

□ 7. affluence (line 63)

□ 8. wane (line 65)

□ 9. posterity (line 70)

□ 10. annals (line 75)

Self-Tests

1 Match each word with its synonym in Set One and its antonym in Set Two.

2 Pick the best word to complete each sentence. Use each word once.

Vocabulary list

nomadic

levy

waned

annals

multitude

procure

exports

venerate

affluence

posterity

1. My enthusiasm for the project ... as people began to argue with each other at every meeting.

2. My brother was able to ... two seats to the sold-out concert for us through his business connec­tions.

3. I had to hand my paper in late because of a(n) ... of problems, from being sick to computer failures.

4. Among Italy's ... are wine and olives.

5. We should ... our nation's teachers be­ cause they have much of the responsibility for educating the future.

6. I have been reading the ... our local historical society has kept about our town. I have dis­covered some fascinating information about the town's founders and my ancestors.

7. I come from a(n) ... family. No one in my family stays anywhere for more than a year, whether that means moving to a new city or a new apartment across town.

8. People measure ... differently. For many people it means money, but for others it means friends, experiences, or even having free time.

9. Next summer, the local recreational area is going to ... a parking fee on the weekends to help pay for new ball fields and play structures.

10. It would be nice if ... would remember us as a peace-loving people, but the num­ber of wars in the twentieth century probably makes that hope unrealistic.

Identify the two vocabulary words represented in the drawings.

3 Answer each question with the appropriate vocabulary word. Use each word once.

Vocabulary list

annals

exports

waned

affluence

venerates

procure

levy

posterity

nomadic

multitude

1. Hector has to feed 300 people. What term would describe this group?

2. Alexander needs to get food and drinks for the party. What does he need to do?

3. Colleen thinks her grandpa is the smartest man in the world. How does she feel about him?

4. The people of the Sahara Desert travel from one watering spot to another. What can their lifestyle be described as?

5. Most people today want to keep the air and oceans clean. Who are they saving them for?

6. A company based in Spain sends its products to the United States. What does it do with these goods?

7. A couple drives a Jaguar, wears designer clothes, and eats at the most expensive restaurants in town. What are they displaying?

8. After two years of studying art, it no longer excites Sabrina. What has happened to her interest in the subject?

9. The city now charges a fee to use the community pool. What has it started to do?

10. The secretary records all of the significant events that happen in the philosophical society during the year and puts them into chronological order. What is she writing?

Collocations

The state has decided to levy a fee for using all its parks whether people come for an afternoon picnic or to camp overnight. (Chapter 13)

In some cultures grandparents are highly venerated for their years of accumulated wisdom. (Chapter 13)

Word Pcdrs

Export/Import: Export (Chapter 13) means "to send overseas," and import means "to bring in from a foreign country." Among the items Mongolia exports are cashmere, wool, and copper; the country imports fuel, cars, and sugar.

Wax/Wane: Wax means "to increase," and wane (Chapter 13) means "to decrease." The moon waxes each month before the-full moon and wanes after it.

Interesting Etymologies

Affluence (Chapter 13) comes from the Latin ad, “to," plus fluere, "flow" and meant "flowing abundantly." The plentiful flowing eventually came to mean "wealth or abundance."

Interactive Exercise

Finish the following who, what, where, why, and when lists to practice using the vocabulary words. Give two examples for each question.

1. Whom do you venerate?

2. Who will go down in the annals of war as a great leader or warrior?

3. What would you procure for a picnic?

4. What items show someone's affluence?

5. Where would you find a multitude of people?

6. Where would you like to export goods or ideas to?

7. Why might a student's attention in class begin to wane?

8. Why should we care about posterity?

9. When would a town decide it needs to levy more fees?

10. When do people tend to be nomadic?

Study Groups

A class can be more rewarding if you find classmates to study with. For an effective study group, keep these points in mind.

✵ Get people who really want to learn, not just socialize.

✵ Pick a time that can accommodate most people, and decide how often to meet (once a week, once a month). Exchange e-mail addresses and phone numbers in order to an­nounce meeting times.

✵ Pick a place to meet that promotes studying. See whether the library has study group rooms. You want a place where you can talk freely and where you won't be interrupted by telephones, children, or other distractions.

✵ Bring the necessary books, notes, and other materials to each session.

✵ Give everyone a chance to participate, and respect each person's views.

✵ Assign someone to keep the group on track and be aware of time limits. Ask anyone who disrupts the group to leave.

✵ Evaluate how useful the session was, and decide what changes may be needed. Make the sessions fun and productive.

Words to Watch

Which words would you like to practice with a bit more? Pick 3-5 words to study, and list them below. Write the word and its definition, and compose your own sentence using the word correctly. This extra practice could be the final touch to learning a word.