Ultimate word success - Peterson's 2009

Day 8 Explore Test-worthy Words About the Law and Making Judgments
Part III Build Your Word Bank

Bylaws (also spelled by-laws) are not laws adopted on the by-and-by. Neither are they casual or secondary laws. As used today, the word bylaws refers to the rules governing the internal affairs of an organization. When the word was first created, however, it had a very different meaning. The word bylaws comes from the Old Norse word bylog, and it referred to the laws of a village. In Middle English, the word came to mean the local law as distinguished from the general laws of the realm.

Knowing the history of the word bylaws can help you remember it for test-taking time as well as general usage. In this chapter, you’ll learn a series of words that all have to do with laws and making judgments.

Be a Legal Beagle

Here are twelve words that concern judgments and the law. All these words are likely to crop up on standardized tests.

Time for Fun: Word-Find Puzzle

There are ten words hidden in this word-find puzzle. Many of the words have already been introduced in this chapter, but a few are new. To complete the puzzle, locate and circle all the words. (See the word list below.) The words may be written forward, backward, or upside down. The answers appear on here. Good luck!

Word List

1. accuse: to charge with a crime

2. acquit: to free from blame

3. collusion: conspiracy; a secret agreement for fraudulent purposes

4. fraud: deceit or trickery to gain an unfair advantage

5. extradite: to give up a fugitive to another nation or authority

6. biased: prejudiced

7. larceny: theft; robbery

8. libel: false and malicious written statements

9. vindicated: freed from blame

10. arbiter: a judge who decides a disputed issue

It’s Your Turn: Synonyms and Antonyms

This time, write the synonym and antonym for each word. (Remember that a synonym means the same; an antonym means the opposite.) You may wish to say the word aloud as you look for the match. Remember: saying the words will help you remember them! Then write your answers in the space provided. The answers appear on here.

Explore Ten Test-worthy Words About Legal Matters

Following are some important words about legal matters, especially crimes and criminals. All of these words are likely to appear on standardized tests. As you read these words, cover the right column and see if you can guess the definitions of the words.

Words About Criminals

The following five words all have to do with criminals and unlawful acts:

Myth: People dislike serving on juries.

Fact: A National Center for State Courts survey revealed that 81 percent of those who served on juries had a favorable attitude toward jury service.

Words Formed from “Judge”

It’s not surprising that the word “judge” is part of many useful words about the law. Below are five of these “judge” words. Many appear on the GED, SAT, ACT, TOEFL, and other standardized tests.

Seventh-Inning Stretch: Multiple-Choice #1

Select the word that best completes each sentence. Then, write the letter of the word in the space. The answers appear on here.

1. The criminal was caught because his __________ was so close to his real name; in fact, he even used the same initials!

(A) swindle

(B) battery

(C) assault

(D) alias

(E) felony

2. The __________ who stole the canoe was apprehended when he returned for the oars.

(A) culprit

(B) swindle

(C) arbiter

(D) perquisite

(E) libel

3. Although it was clear that his testimony was __________, the accused swore that he was telling the truth.

(A) perjury

(B) authentic

(C) bona fide

(D) sacrosanct

(E) salubrious

4. When the accused ignored the __________ to appear in court, she was arrested by a police officer and hauled off to jail.

(A) battery

(B) subpoena

(C) assault

(D) prospectus

(E) insignia

5. After being convicted of a __________, the teenager had his license revoked.

(A) jurist

(B) warrant

(C) misdemeanor

(D) subpoena

(E) specter

6. The court’s __________ was extensive—stretching across the entire state—giving it great legal power.

(A) collusion

(B) stanchion

(C) terrorism

(D) jurisdiction

(E) contagion

7. The driver was convicted of ________, a type of murder, because he deliberately ran over his neighbor.

(A) subpoena

(B) manslaughter

(C) writ

(D) arbiter

(E) temperance

8. The __________ was so clever that it took the victim weeks to realize that she had been cheated.

(A) verbiage

(B) swindle

(C) subpoena

(D) writ

(E) tenet

9. The __________ was furious about being called to serve on a jury for two weeks.

(A) convoy

(B) jurisdiction

(C) writ

(D) subpoena

(E) jurist

10. The revolutionary was convicted of __________ for trying to help a foreign government overthrow or harm the United States.

(A) inclemency

(B) amiability

(D) philanthropy

(E) treason

11. Smashing someone over the head with a stick is a clear-cut case of ________.

(A) battery

(B) terrorism

(C) vagrancy

(D) vandalism

(E) benevolence

12. The jurists were guilty of __________ because they made a secret agreement to vote to acquit the accused.

(A) jurisdiction

(B) subpoena

(C) collusion

(D) culprit

(E) warrant

Word-Definition Match

Match each word to its definition. Write the letter of your answer in the space provided. The answers appear on here.

Myth: America has too many lawyers—more than any other country.

Fact: The United States has 9.4 percent of the world’s lawyers and ranks 35th in number of lawyers on a per capita basis. Among those ranked ahead of us are Japan, France, and Italy.

Investigate Twelve More Words About the Law

Below are twelve test-worthy words about testimony, the courts, and legal matters. As you study these words, try to use each one in a sentence.

Present the Body!

The Latin root corp means “body.” Several important legal words come from this root, including the phrase writ of habeas corpus. Literally, the phrase means “produce the body.” A writ of habeas is used in some criminal proceedings to direct the court officer to bring the prisoner to court to determine the lawfulness of the imprisonment. Therefore, a writ of habeas corpus safeguards individuals from being unlawfully taken into custody. You can also figure out the term corpus delict by knowing that the root corp means “body.” Literally, the phrase means “body of the crime.” It is used to refer to facts that show a crime has taken place.

Words from the Root Appeal

An appeal is a request that a court review the decision of a lower court. Knowing what appeal means can help you decode related words. For instance, an appellant makes the appeal or is the person on whose behalf the appeal is made. The appellate court reviews the judgments of other courts. As you would expect, the appellate court has appellate jurisdiction, the legal authority to review a decision made by a lower court. Many other legal terms are built on similar roots, so knowing just a handful of legal words can help you figure out many more.

Seventh-Inning Stretch: Multiple-Choice #2

For each item, circle the word that is closest in meaning to the word in boldface. The answers appear on here.

1. litigation

(A) lawsuit

(B) loose

(C) credible

(D) view from a distance

2. hearsay

(A) something overheard

(B) gossip

(C) the grapevine

(D) evidence based on someone else’s statements

3. integrity

(A) infidelity

(B) dishonesty

(C) trustworthiness

(D) neutrality

4. venue

(A) bailiff

(B) the area in which a court tries a case

(C) sold

(D) vivacious

5. objectivity

(A) bias

(B) impartiality

(C) proclivity

(D) inclination

6. indict

(A) charge with a crime

(B) provoke

(C) exonerate from guilt

(D) divulge

7. deposition

(A) bailiff

(B) divulge

(C) oral testimony

(D) written testimony

8. penitent

(A) defiant

(B) mutinous

(C) expressing remorse for your mistakes

(D) brave

9. impartial

(A) dogmatic

(B) unbiased

(C) racist

(D) humorous

10. defendant

(A) plaintiff

(B) jurist

(C) bailiff

(D) the person being accused or sued

Campaign for Political Terms with Multiple Meanings

“Pork barrel” is an odd term. In the grocery, it might refer to a barrel of sausage, but when applied to politics, “pork barrel” refers to spending that is primarily for the benefit of particular local interests.

Below are four words with multiple meanings. One meaning of each word can be applied to legal issues. Don’t be fooled if you encounter these words on standardized tests. Be sure to use context to help you figure out the correct meaning in each particular situation.

Learn Words About Government

“E” is such a small letter that it couldn’t have much impact on your legal rights… or could it? Actually, that little “e” matters a whole lot when it comes to cases and cakes. To a lawyer, a tort (tort) is a civil wrong for which the injured party is entitled to compensation. To a baker, a torte (tort) is a rich cake, especially one that contains little or no flour. As you can tell, both words are pronounced the same way. The only change is that itty-bitty “e.” Small, but powerful.

Seventh-Inning Stretch: Multiple-Choice #3

Select the correct meaning for each of the following boldfaced words. Circle your choice. The answers appear on here.

1. surplus

(A) objective

(B) shortage

(C) extra

(D) fatuous

(E) catastrophe

2. subsidy

(A) tariff

(B) levy

(C) endowment

(D) assessment

(E) penalty

3. patronage

(A) reproof

(B) castigation

(C) reward

(D) penalty

(E) long-lasting friendship

4. deficit

(A) shortfall

(B) insult

(C) auxiliary

(D) character flaw

(E) indignity

5. laissez faire

(A) French food

(B) foreign forms of leadership

(C) government by fiat

(D) “hands-off” approach to the economy

(E) circuitous

6. veto

(A) support a bill

(B) victory

(C) debacle

(D) triumph

(E) reject a bill

7. collusion

(A) accident

(B) conspiracy

(C) detriment

(D) mischief

(E) magnate

8. delegate

(A) a demotion

(B) a slur

(C) a triumph

(D) a foe

(E) a representative

9. vindicated

(A) freed from blame

(B) censured

(C) denounced

(D) reproached

(E) violated

10. filibuster

(A) type of nut

(B) legal defense

(C) long-winded oratory

(D) type of judge

(E) form of punishment

11. integrity

(A) fraud

(B) trustworthiness

(C) misrepresentation

(D) type of crime

(E) innocence

12. caucus

(A) boisterous

(B) strident

(C) serene

(D) gathering

(E) swift justice

Answers and Explanations

Word-Find Puzzle (here)

Synonyms and Antonyms (here)

(Possible answers)

Multiple-Choice #1 (here)

1. D

2. A

3. A

4. B

5. C

6. D

7. B

8. B

9. E

10. E

11. A

12. C

Word-Definition Match (here)

1. d

2. g

3. f

4. k

5. h

6. c

7. l

8. b

9. j

10. e

11. i

12. a

Multiple-Choice #2 (here)

1. A

2. D

3. C

4. B

5. B

6. A

7. D

8. C

9. B

10. D

Multiple-Choice #3 (here)

1. C

2. C

3. C

4. A

5. D

6. E

7. B

8. E

9. A

10. C

11. B

12. D