4000 Essential English Words 6 » Unit 27: The Earl of Shining

Word List
  • analogy [əˈnælədʒi] n.
    An analogy is a connection made between things to show that they are similar.
    → The doctor made an analogy between the human heart and a water pump.
  • ancestry [ˈænsestri] n.
    A person's ancestry is the series of people from whom a person descended.
    → We studied our ancestry and found out that we are related to royalty.
  • archer [ˈɑːrtʃər] n.
    An archer is a person who uses a bow and arrows.
    → The expert archer hit the target every time.
  • conspiracy [kənˈspirəsi] n.
    A conspiracy is a secret plan made by a group of people to do something illegal.
    → Some people think that there was a conspiracy to kill American president John Kennedy.
  • deputy [ˈdepjəti] n.
    A deputy is the second-highest-ranking person in a business or government.
    → While the sheriff was ill, the deputy took over his duties.
  • earl [əːrl] n.
    An earl is a nobleman from Britain.
    → The Earl of Canterbury lived in a huge mansion.
  • fragrant [ˈfreigrənt] adj.
    When something is fragrant, it has a pleasant smell.
    → The girl picked delicious berries and fragrant flowers.
  • funnel [ˈfʌnl] n.
    A funnel is an object with a wide top and a narrow bottom for pouring liquids.
    → The worker used a funnel when he poured the oil into the engine.
  • hereditary [hiˈredəˌteri] adj.
    If something is hereditary, it is a trait passed onto children from their parents.
    → The hereditary disease affected three generations of children.
  • hymn [him] n.
    A hymn is a religious song that often praises a god.
    → The book was filled with hymns that the worshippers sang.
  • invert [inˈvəːrt] v.
    To invert something means to turn it upside down.
    → He inverted the bicycle to make repairs on the wheels.
  • prey [prei] n.
    Prey is the animals that are hunted and eaten by another creature.
    → The lion ran as fast as he could to catch his prey.
  • procession [prəˈseʃən] n.
    A procession is a group of people who walk or drive in a line during a public event.
    → The procession all celebrated when they reached the end.
  • prophet [ˈprɒfit] n.
    A prophet is a person chosen by a god to give the god’s message to people.
    → Harold believed that he was one of the prophets of his god.
  • sarcastic [sɑːrˈkæstik] adj.
    When something is sarcastic, it is the opposite of what is actually meant.
    → She hurt her mother’s feelings with her constant sarcastic remarks.
  • seasoning [ˈsiːzəniŋ] n.
    Seasoning is a mix of salt, herbs, and spices that improves the taste of food.
    → This steak tastes bland. Maybe I’ll add some seasoning to it.
  • sodium [ˈsoudiəm] n.
    Sodium is an element that can be used to make substances such as salt.
    → Sodium and chloride combine to make table salt.
  • tyranny [ˈtirəni] n.
    A tyranny is a cruel and unfair government in which one person has power.
    → His tyranny was impossible to live under.
  • tyrant [ˈtaiərənt] n.
    A tyrant is someone who treats people in a cruel, harsh, and unfair way.
    → Our boss is a tyrant. He makes us work long hours for little pay.
  • vinegar [ˈvinigər] n.
    Vinegar is a strong liquid made from sour wine that is used in cooking.
    → Be careful because too much vinegar will ruin the recipe.
Exercise 1

Choose the answer that best fits the question.

  1. If you invert a bottle, you ______.
    • a. drink from it
    • b. wash it with soap
    • c. turn it upside down
    • d. drop it
  2. Which of the following would most likely require the use of a funnel?
    • a. Snow
    • b. Books
    • c. Carrots
    • d. Water
  3. What is a wolfs prey?
    • a. Its pups
    • b. Its den
    • c. Its food
    • d. Its ally
  4. Which is hereditary?
    • a. Place of birth
    • b. Eye color
    • c. Favorite foods
    • d. Hobbies
  5. If something is fragrant, you ______.
    • a. like to smell it
    • b. want to eat it
    • c. try to end it
    • d. want to sing it
  6. Who uses seasoning at work?
    • a. A teacher
    • b. A chef
    • c. A builder
    • d. An electrician
  7. Which of the following describes a kind of deputy?
    • a. A supervisor
    • b. A CEO
    • c. A vice president
    • d. A Manager
  8. What is made from sodium?
    • a. Furniture
    • b. Salts
    • c. Toys
    • d. Soda
  9. Where would you most likely hear a hymn?
    • a. At work
    • b. Under water
    • c. At the zoo
    • d. In a church
  10. If your brother is sarcastic, he ______.
    • a. wants to hit you
    • b. insults you
    • c. betrays you
    • d. is ill
Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the word bank.

WORD BLANK
prey hereditary tyrant procession
vinegar fragrant seasoning hymns
archer earls    

One ingredient in the recipe is a small amount of 1___________ .
Then you need to pour in a pint of 2___________ .

She can play many instruments and sing many 3___________ .
Her mother is a good musician, too. Her talent must be 4___________ .

The hunter was a very talented 5___________ .
He only needed one arrow to shoot his 6___________ .

Everyone lined up to take part in the 7___________ .
We marched to honor the king and the noble 8___________ .

When it came to keeping the house clean, his mother was a 9___________ .
She punished him if his room did not smell very 10___________ .

Exercise 3

Write a word that is similar in meaning to the underlined part.

  1. He liked to pour the strong tasting liquid made from sour wine directly on his salad.
    ____________
  2. To better explain the procedure, he used a great way to show that things are similar.
    ____________
  3. We were in awe of the performance of the skilled person who uses a bow and arrows.
    ____________
  4. The war was a means to overthrow the cruel and unfair government.
    ____________
  5. I have a feeling that the robbery was a secret plan to do something illegal by the owners.
    ____________
  6. At the library, we learned how to trace our line of people from which we descended.
    ____________
  7. The people were convinced that the strange visitor was a person chosen by God.
    ____________
  8. The father acted like a person who treated people in a cruel and unfair way.
    ____________
  9. The British nobleman was a very kind and respected man.
    ____________
  10. The new mayor’s first priority was to select a second most important person.
    ____________
Exercise 4

Write C if the italicized word is used correctly. Write I if the word is used incorrectly.

  1. ______ The sarcastic teacher was always sure to speak clearly and honestly with his students.
  2. ______ The tyranny at the church made people feel welcome.
  3. ______ The mechanic used a funnel to pour the gas into the tank.
  4. ______ Because of the analogy, many people were injured.
  5. ______ I think the addition of more sodium to the recipe made the bread too salty.
Answer Key
Exercise 1
  1. c
  2. d
  3. c
  4. b
  5. a
  6. b
  7. c
  8. b
  9. d
  10. b
Exercise 2
  1. seasoning
  2. vinegar
  3. hymns
  4. hereditary
  5. archer
  6. prey
  7. procession
  8. earls
  9. tyrant
  10. fragrant
Exercise 3
  1. vinegar
  2. analogy
  3. archer
  4. tyranny
  5. conspiracy
  6. ancestry
  7. prophet
  8. tyrant
  9. earl
  10. deputy
Exercise 4
  1. I
  2. I
  3. C
  4. I
  5. C
Answer Key
The Earl of Shining

In the village of Hampton, there was an old soldier named Michael, but he was known to the world as the Earl of Shining. Michael was once an expert archer and a great fighter. In fact, his skills seemed to be hereditary; all the people in his ancestry were famous warriors. However, he was getting old and no longer wished to fight.

One day, he was in the forest hunting prey when he saw a beautiful prophet singing a hymn. She said, “Michael, an evil army is involved in a conspiracy to take over Hampton. You’re the only one who can defeat them and stop the tyranny. The village needs you!”

Michael replied, “ But I’m too old to fight! I’m not confident that I can do it.”

The prophet said, “You must try. I will even make a potion to increase your strength.”

The prophet took out a bottle and a funnel. She poured some vinegar and garlic into the bottle. Next, she added some seasoning and sodium and shook it up.

Michael smelled the potion. “Wow, this is fragrant,” he said in a sarcastic tone. He inverted the bottle and drank the whole potion. He immediately felt stronger. “ I’ll try my best,” he promised.

Michael rode his horse to a hilltop, where he could see the village of Hampton below. He saw the evil tyrant and his men marching in a procession through the town.

Michael charged down the hill and into the village. An enemy deputy officer shouted, “ He looks as strong as an ox!” It was an apt analogy. Michael grabbed the officer and threw him across the street with one arm. The rest of the officers screamed and rode away, and their army followed.

The prophet reappeared. Michael said, “ It’s a good thing you gave me the potion.”

She replied, “ But Michael, the potion was fake! Your strength really came from having confidence!

Michael realized he really was still great. He just needed to believe in himself.

Reading Comprehension

Part A: Mark each statement T for true or F for false. Rewrite the false statements to make them true.

  1. _____ The Earl of Hampton was an expert archer who was in the forest hunting prey.
    • _____________________________________________________
  2. _____ The prophet used a funnel to put vinegar, garlic, some seasoning, and sodium in a bottle.
    • _____________________________________________________
  3. _____ The evil tyrant and his men marched in a procession through the town.
    • _____________________________________________________
  4. _____ The prophet, who sang a hymn, was involved in a conspiracy to take over Hampton.
    • _____________________________________________________
  5. _____ Michael’s strength really came from the fragrant potion.
    • _____________________________________________________

Part B: Answer the questions.

  1. What suggests that Michael’s skills were hereditary?
    _____________
  2. What analogy did an enemy deputy officer use to describe Michael?
    _____________
  3. What did Michael say in a sarcastic tone before he inverted the bottle?
    _____________
  4. What did Michael say after the prophet said the village needed him to stop the tyranny?
    _____________
  5. What did Michael realize after his final encounter with the prophet?
    _____________
Answer Key
Answer Key
Reading Comprehension
Part A
  1. T
  2. T
  3. T
  4. F / The evil army was involved in a conspiracy to take over Hampton.
  5. F / Michael’s strength really came from having confidence.
Part B
  1. All the people in his ancestry were famous warriors.
  2. “He looks as strong as an ox!”
  3. “Wow, this is fragrant.”
  4. “I’m too old to fight! I’m not confident that I can do it.”
  5. Michael realized he really was still great. He just needed to believe in himself.
Favorite Books
4000 Essential English Words 1

The activities in "4000 Essential English Words" are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 1: 600 words (Unit 1 - Unit 30).

Read more
4000 Essential English Words 2

The activities in "4000 Essential English Words" are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 2: 600 words (Unit 1 - Unit 30).

Read more
4000 Essential English Words 3

The activities in "4000 Essential English Words" are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 3: 600 words (Unit 1 - Unit 30).

Read more
4000 Essential English Words 4

The activities in "4000 Essential English Words" are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 4: 600 words (Unit 1 - Unit 30).

Read more
4000 Essential English Words 5

The activities in "4000 Essential English Words" are specially designed to make use of important learning conditions. Firstly, the words are introduced using sentence definitions and an example sentence. 4000 Essential English Words 5: 600 words (Unit 1 - Unit 30).

Read more