Exploring vocabulary - Muschla Gary R. 2012

Making driving safer
Words from other languages, II

English contains many words that come from other languages.

1. hurricane (n): a very powerful storm that begins over the ocean (from Spanish)

People left the island before the hurricane struck.

2. ballet (n): a formal dance with graceful movements (from French)

Ballet is Samantha’s favorite dance.

3. knapsack (n): a bag made of canvas or leather that is carried on the back (from German)

Jake packed his knapsack for a long hike.

4. mayor (n): the head of a town or city government (from French)

The mayor called an emergency meeting of the town’s council.

5. judge (n): a person who presides over a court of law and makes legal rulings (from French)

Everyone rose when the judge entered the courtroom.

6. carnival (n): a traveling show featuring rides, amusements, and games; a fair (from Italian)

A carnival comes to our town every summer.

7. tornado (n): a violent storm with whirling winds in the shape of a funnel cloud (from Spanish)

The tornado left a path of destruction.

8. justice (n): fairness (from French)

The laws must provide justice for everyone.

9. canyon (n): a gorge with steep sides; a ravine (from Spanish)

The explorers set up their camp on high ground above the canyon.

10. bandit (n): an outlaw; a robber; a thief (from Italian)

According to legend, Robin Hood was a bandit who helped the poor.

Vocabulary tip

Many people around the world speak English.

30.1 Making driving safer

In 1923, Garrett A. Morgan invented a device that made driving by automobile safer. What did Morgan invent?

To answer the question, find the word for each definition below. Choose your answers from the words after the definitions. Write the letter of each answer in the space above its definition number at the bottom of the page. You will need to divide the letters into words. Some letters are provided.

1. a gorge with steep sides; a ravine _____

2. a person who presides over a court of law and makes legal rulings _____

3. a traveling show with rides, amusements, and games; a fair _____

4. a very powerful storm that begins over the ocean _____

5. a bag made of canvas or leather that is carried on the back _____

6. the head of a town or city government _____

7. an outlaw; a robber; a thief _____

8. fairness _____

9. a formal dance with graceful movements _____

10. a violent storm with whirling winds in the shape of a funnel cloud _____

Answers

N. bandit

C. canyon

T. justice

M. judge

A. ballet

S. carnival

I. mayor

L. knapsack

O. hurricane

F. tornado