VIP Class Notes (Raph)

Vocabulary

Synopsis (n): 1- a short description of the contents of something such as a film or book.
E.g.: I don’t like to read movie synopses before I watch them, because I’m afraid they might contain spoilers.

Reservation (n): 1- a doubt or feeling of not being able to agree with or accept something completely.
E.g.: Workers and employees shared deep reservations about the wisdom of the government’s plans for the industry.
E.g.: He accepted my advice without reservation.

Hitchhike (v): 1- to travel by getting a free ride in someone else’s road vehicle. (n: Hitchhiker)
E.g.: It took six days to hitchhike across Minnesota.
E.g.: We stopped for a hitchhiker on the way to California.

Booby Trap (n): 1- something dangerous, especially a bomb, that is hidden inside somewhere that looks safe:
E.g.: The bodyguard was killed while checking the president’s car for booby traps.
E.g.: They put a bucket of water on top of his door as a booby trap.

Crib (n): 1- a small bed for a baby or young child with high bars around the sides so that the child cannot fall out.
E.g.: We just bought a crib for our new baby.

Confide (v): 1- to tell something secret or personal to someone who you trust not to tell anyone else:
E.g.: He confided (to her) that his hair was not his own.
E.g.: “My husband doesn’t know yet, but I’m going to leave him,” she confided.

Preemptive (adj): 1- If something is preemptive, it is done before other people can act, especially to prevent them from doing something else.
E.g.: The Treasury has decided to raise interest rates as a preemptive measure against inflation.
E.g.: The prime minister authorized a preemptive air strike against the rebels.
E.g.: A preemptive attack to North Korea would be a disastrous mistake.

Civilian (n): 1- a person who is not a member of the police or the armed forces.
E.g.: The bomb killed four soldiers and three civilians.
E.g.: Bombing civilians is a crime against humanity .

Atrocity (n): 1- an extremely cruel, violent, or shocking act.
E.g.: They are on trial for committing atrocities against the civilian population.

Annihilate (v): 1- to destroy something completely so that nothing is left:
E.g.: The city of Hiroshima was annihilated by an atomic bomb

Pronunciation

Array: /əˈreɪ/

Series: /ˈsɪr.iːz/

Trustworthiness: /ˈtrʌstˌwɝː.ði.nəs/

Hitchhike: /ˈhɪtʃ.haɪk/

Papier-mâché: /ˌpeɪ.pɚ məˈʃeɪ/

Casualty: /ˈkæʒ.ju.əl.ti/

Annihilate: /əˈnaɪ.ə.leɪt/