Unit 22: The Coward's Lesson

Click or select any word to translate.

Word List

  • n. Camouflage is something used to hide people and things.
    The green and brown camouflage was best used for hiding in forests and jungles.
  • v. When you confront someone, you meet them face to face to deal with a problem.
    I confronted him as he left the meeting and told him I thought he was wrong.
  • v. To contemplate something means to think about it.
    Mark took a moment to contemplate the math problem before solving it.
  • v. To contend with something means to struggle to overcome it.
    Stacy had to contend with a learning disability throughout high school.
  • n. A cot is a small portable bed.
    At the camp, the boys' cabin was lined with cots.
  • v. To enlist means to join the military.
    In their final year at school, the students were asked to enlist in the military.
  • n. A frontier is a border between two regions or countries.
    A fence was built along the frontier where the river curved.
  • n. A guerilla is a person who fights as part of an unofficial army.
    Guerilla warfare involves a lot of hit-and-run fighting.
  • n. A handbook is material that gives specific information or instructions.
    If you look at the handbook, it will tell you which wires to connect to the TV.
  • adj. If someone is hesitant, then they are not sure or are slow to act or speak.
    Although he knew the answer, he was hesitant to say it because he might be wrong.
  • adj. If something is lush, then it is full of a variety of large, healthy plants.
    The lush jungle was filled with plants, trees, and vines.
  • n. An outfit is a set of clothes worn together, often for a certain job or event.
    Kelly's new outfit made her look so glamourous.
  • n. A paw is an animal's foot that has claws or soft pads.
    The kitten cleaned its paws with its tongue.
  • adj. If something or someone is splendid, then they are very good.
    From his head down to his shoes, his clothes looked splendid.
  • v. To stray means to go in a wrong direction and become lost.
    He found himself lost because he had strayed from the tour group.
  • adj. If something is substantial, then it is of great importance, size, or value.
    The bank said that he owed it a substantial amount of money.
  • n. A torch is a stick with one end on fire that can be carried in order to give light.
    He grabbed a piece of wood and stuck it in the fire in order to make a torch.
  • n. A tract is a large area of land.
    On the other side of the mountains, there was a long tract of forest.
  • n. A vigil is a period of watchful attention at night for a specific purpose.
    He had a vigil in front of the tomb for three days.
  • adj. If someone is weary, then they are tired.
    Jane was weary after a long day of work.

 

Exercise

A ‣ Circle the one that is similar in meaning to the given word.

  1. paw
    • a. father
    • b. foot
    • c. fort
    • d. fashion
  2. cot
    • a. chamber
    • b. bed
    • c. fabric
    • d. hut
  3. camouflage
    • a. disguise
    • b. funny
    • c. tired
    • d. scared
  4. lush
    • a. shelf
    • b. poem
    • c. weather
    • d. green
  5. substantial
    • a. backward
    • b. majestic
    • c. large
    • d. comfortable

 

B ‣ Write the word from the word bank that best fits each sentence.

WORD BANK
  • camouflage
  • torches
  • outfit
  • paw
  • weary
  • vigil
  • handbook
  • enlist
  • lush
  • contemplated

At first, he didn't know to which animal the 1_____'s print belonged.

But after he looked it up in the 2_____, he knew what it was.

He decided to 3_____ in the army.

After he was done signing the papers, he dressed in his new 4_____.

She was supposed to keep a(n) 5_____ all night.

However, she soon became 6_____ and fell asleep.

Because the forest was so 7_____, it was dark inside even during the day.

So, in order to see the path, the explorers had to light their 8_____.

He 9_____ how to get the stains out of his favorite suit.

At last, Mark decided to wear another 10_____.

 

C ‣ Circle the one that is opposite in meaning to the given word.

  1. contend
    • a. give up
    • b. ready
    • c. quick
    • d. ugly
  2. substantial
    • a. bright
    • b. runny
    • c. small
    • d. handsome
  3. hesitant
    • a. visible
    • b. certain
    • c. colorful
    • d. broken
  4. splendid
    • a. night
    • b. whale
    • c. terrible
    • d. skin
  5. enlist
    • a. resign
    • b. erase
    • c. boil
    • d. increase

 

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

  1. The man wandered from the main road and became lost. _____
  2. We were nervous at first, but soon warmed up to the idea. _____
  3. John thought about attending college out of state. _____
  4. The older farm over there owns all of this area of land. _____
  5. The tired man lay down and fell asleep almost immediately. _____
  6. Daniel has to overcome his speech impediment. _____
  7. We will set up a portable bed for you to sleep on. _____
  8. The criminal soldier shot at the approaching army. _____
  9. Residents of the border area speak two languages. _____
  10. I was always taught to face my fears. _____

 

The Coward's Lesson

Tom was easily frightened. He enlisted in the army because he thought the military would teach him courage. And although he needed courage, he never imagined how he would learn it.

During a march across a tract of wilderness to practice guerilla warfare near his country's frontier, Tom strayed from his squad. He had stopped to gaze at a splendid view of a lush valley. When he turned around, his squad was gone. He searched for them, but because their outfits had camouflage, he couldn't find them.

It was getting dark, and Tom grew weary. All he had was a knife and his handbook. He made camp for the night. It was cold, and the ground was hard. He wished he had his cot and a blanket. Instead, he made a fire, wrapped himself tightly in his jacket, and fell asleep.

A loud noise roused him from his sleep. "What was that?” he wondered. Then he noticed it. An animal of substantial size had left a print from its paw in the dirt. He sat closer to the fire and looked into the darkness. He imagined a large beast jumping from the gloom and attacking him. He shook with fear.

Tom contemplated many different plans. He was hesitant to act. He decided to stay by the fire, but during his vigil, he heard more noises.

He couldn't contend with his fear any longer. He knew what he had to do. He made a torch and followed the prints. He heard a twig snap very close ahead, but he bravely went on. Seconds later, he discovered what had scared him. It was only a sheep.

Tom went back to his camp and slept. In the morning, he found his squad. He had finally learned courage. He learned that he had to confront his fear in order to conquer it.

 

Reading Comprehension

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

  1. _____ Tom strayed from his squad to gaze at a splendid view of a lush forest near the frontier.
    __________
  2. _____ Tom couldn't find his squad on the tract of wilderness because their outfits had camouflage.
    __________
  3. _____ All Tom had with him was his cot, a boomerang, and his handbook.
    __________
  4. _____ An animal of substantial size left a print from its paw in the dirt near Tom's fire.
    __________
  5. _____ A loud noise woke him from his sleep.
    __________

 

Part B: Answer the questions.

  1. What is the passage about?
    • a. Following orders
    • b. Facing one's fears
    • c. Joining the army
    • d. Being the best
  2. Why did Tom enlist in the military?
    _____
  3. During his vigil, what could Tom not contend with any longer?
    _____

 

Answer Key

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