Internet Academy

Reading

	Federal Way Public Schools

Comprehension
Lesson 14

Interpreting Vocabulary

Objectives/Vocab/Tips > Examples 1 | 2 | 3 > Practice: 1 | 2 | 3 > Self Check

Example 2:

Instruction

Review, "Honoring Our Forgotten Heroes," linked to the book icon on the right.

Question:

In the second paragraph the author says that Lin's designs do not intimidate people. What is the meaning of intimidate in this paragraph?

Remember to:

Read the question before reading the passage.
Consider carefully all words, phrases, and even sentences surrounding the word intimidate.

Think:

What are the key words in this question? (meaning, intimidate)
What is this question asking me to do? (determine the best meaning for intimidate from the information in the text).
Which choices can you eliminate right away, and which are possibly correct answers? Remember the "YES, NO, MAYBE" tool.
Let's review paragraph two, where intimidate is used in a sentence. Paragraph two states:

Lin's simple designs are not overwhelming. Like her, they do not tower over people or intimidate them. Instead, they make people pause and reflect. They also draw out emotions.
Look at the clues in this paragraph:
- designs are simple, NOT overwhelming
- designs don't tower over people
- designs don't intimidate people
- "Instead" is a key word to tell us the opposite effect her designs have on people
- designs make people "pause and reflect" instead of intimidating and overwhelming them
- designs draw emotions out of people instead of intimidating them.
Before we look at the answer choices, do you have a fairly good idea about what intimidate might mean? Let's see how closely you deciphered the context clues.

Multiple Choice Answers:

Yes	No	Maybe		Answers
			A.	Threaten Try this answer in a sentence, replacing *intimidate* in the original sentence. The designs do not threaten people. Remember, you are looking for an word that creates an opposite effect from "pause and reflect."
			B.	Cause one sadness Try this answer in a sentence, replacing *intimidate* in the original sentence. The designs do not cause people sadness. *"Sadness"* is an emotion and you are looking for something that is the opposite of emotions. We know her designs draw emotions out of people instead of intimidating them. This answer would not make sense as a meaning for intimidate.
			C.	Cause one joy Try this answer in a sentence, replacing intimidate in the original sentence. The designs do not cause people joy. *"Joy"* is also an emotion and you are looking for something that is the opposite of emotions. We know her designs draw emotions out of people instead of intimidating them. This answer would not make sense as a meaning for intimidate.
			D.	Bring together Try this answer in a sentence, replacing intimidate in the original sentence. The designs do not bring people together. Bringing people together is not the opposite of people "pausing and reflecting." This answer would not make sense as a meaning for intimidate.

Now, which definition best explains the meaning of intimidate? Right - Answer A.

Before we abandon the word "intimidate," what are examples of things that might be intimidating?

facing an NFL football player in a tackle
crossing a river full of crocodiles, hungry crocodiles, and you are swimming
challenging an Olympic speed skater to a race
standing at bottom of the Columbia Tower just before starting the Stair Climb (something like a million floors)
entering a pizza eating contest when the winner last year gobbled 45 slices of Papa Murphy's hot pepperoni pizza
being responsible for the care of a brand new baby for a whole day
standing up in front of your class for a speech
think of a few of your own!