Unit 8
"They Look Like Us"
This song includes seventh grade vocabulary words that students are likely to encounter on state tests. It teaches the following words: browse, counterfeit, devour, dishearten, emblem, exuberant, lurk, mellow, patronize, pique, pluck, ponder, presume, preview and recede. In this song, the emcee finds out some unexpected information about his librarian and principal. Find out what is so different about them.
Intro
It was all normal that morning,
Radio alarm went off roaring, woke me from my snoring.
Took a shower, pondering the rest of my day,
Thinking about all the things that would happen to me.
I devoured my corn flakes, I ate them quickly,
Got to school before 8 on my bike in a jiffy.
We had a new principal, her voice was odd,
She said, "It’s the pledge of allegiance—so please stand up.
I pledge allegiance to the robots, I mean, to the flag
of America and to the country for which it stands."
Then in third period I tried to relax,
With a nice paperback from the library that was right in the back.
Browsing and looking for a good novel,
Pulled out a book, and it was all hollow; it’s so awful.
I’m thinking, What’s this, a counterfeit or fake book?
I noticed something inside, so I had to take a look.
I opened it up and saw a little key,
It’s a mystery, I’m looking at it thinking, What could this be?
Needless to say, my interest was piqued,
My interest was provoked and increased.
So I plucked the key from the book like a feather from a chicken,
Wishing no one would ever notice that this was missing.
Now I presumed and supposed that the key was supposed to
Open a door to gold, you know I was hopeful.
I noticed a symbol or emblem on the key,
It had a picture of a robot that was looking at me.
Then a librarian walked by, who I told, "Hi,
Miss Librarian, you know that I’m all right.
Nice paisley cardigan and cool pressed slacks!
Well, I’m sorry I’m reading a book, and should get back."
She said, "Don’t patronize me, young man,
Don’t talk down to me like I don’t understand.
I see you hiding back there like you’re lurking,
Get back to class; I know you should be working."
I put the key in my pocket, retreated back to my class,
Receded from the library, went away fast.
It seems that life’s not as it seems,
This life is like a dream,
Don’t know what it means because… (x2)
A few weeks later, talking with Steve,
Steve opened his locker, I couldn’t believe.
I saw the same emblem on the key before,
And a little hole below where the key could go.
I peeked through for a preview, but couldn’t see through,
Steve knew it was too dark to even see through.
I said, "We’re coming back here, is that clear?
Act mellow, man, just be cool, don’t act weird."
After school, my heart was pounding, I’m losing it,
Steve was crazy-excited and exuberant.
Here we go, put the key in the hole to go in,
As the back wall of the locker opened.
We started climbing through the darkness,
I was losing bravery and getting disheartened.
The passage led to a room that I didn’t know,
We saw the librarian talking to the principal.
They talked about a plot to take over the school,
Take over the town, down to controlling the news,
Take over the globe; oh man, you didn’t know
That these ladies were thugs and totally cold.
Each peeled off her mask, nice and slow,
And I remembered what their voices sounded like before.
They seemed human, but I realized that they’re so not,
My librarian and principal were robots!
It seems that life’s not as it seems,
This life is like a dream,
Don’t know what it means because… (x2)
Will we even know when the robots invade?
You'll learn these words: browse, counterfeit, devour, dishearten, emblem, exuberant, lurk, mellow, pique, pluck, ponder, presume, patronize, preview, recede.
You'll learn these words: browse, counterfeit, devour, dishearten, emblem, exuberant, lurk, mellow, pique, pluck, ponder, presume, patronize, preview, recede.
ponder (verb)
to think about; to consider carefully
Kyle loves nothing more than to ponder the meaning of life.
Synonyms: contemplate, reflect, mull over
Antonyms: forget, ignore
to think about; to consider carefully
Kyle loves nothing more than to ponder the meaning of life.
Synonyms: contemplate, reflect, mull over
Antonyms: forget, ignore
devour (verb)
1. to eat up hungrily or quickly
2. to take in eagerly (as in a book, a movie, etc.)
1. The lion devoured a horse for its dinner.
2. Last summer I devoured all the books I could find by R. L. Stine.
Synonyms: 1. chow down, consume
1. to eat up hungrily or quickly
2. to take in eagerly (as in a book, a movie, etc.)
1. The lion devoured a horse for its dinner.
2. Last summer I devoured all the books I could find by R. L. Stine.
Synonyms: 1. chow down, consume
browse (verb)
1. to look through or glance at casually
2. to eat (wild vegetation), to graze
1. The store manager didn't like having kids in the store because they tended to browse without buying anything.
2. The monkeys browsed for berries in the tree canopy.
Synonyms: check over, survey
Other forms: There is something wrong with my Internet browser (noun); it displays all text in flashing green.
1. to look through or glance at casually
2. to eat (wild vegetation), to graze
1. The store manager didn't like having kids in the store because they tended to browse without buying anything.
2. The monkeys browsed for berries in the tree canopy.
Synonyms: check over, survey
Other forms: There is something wrong with my Internet browser (noun); it displays all text in flashing green.
counterfeit (adj)
not genuine, fake
When Chris was caught trying to buy candy with counterfeit money, they didn't just call the cops; they brought in the FBI.
Synonyms: false, bogus
Antonyms: genuine, real
Other forms: Counterfeit can also be a noun meaning "an imitation designed to deceive," as in: This painting, which looks authentic, was actually a counterfeit. Counterfeit can also be a verb meaning "to make an illegal copy": Some criminals try to counterfeit U.S. currency. The counterfeiters (noun) were caught at the border.
not genuine, fake
When Chris was caught trying to buy candy with counterfeit money, they didn't just call the cops; they brought in the FBI.
Synonyms: false, bogus
Antonyms: genuine, real
Other forms: Counterfeit can also be a noun meaning "an imitation designed to deceive," as in: This painting, which looks authentic, was actually a counterfeit. Counterfeit can also be a verb meaning "to make an illegal copy": Some criminals try to counterfeit U.S. currency. The counterfeiters (noun) were caught at the border.
pique (verb)
1. to excite to action
2. to hurt the pride of
1. When Bryson started playing the piano, the sweet music piqued everyone's interest.
2. Piqued that Rory had ignored her after the game, Joanna stormed off in anger.
Synonyms: 1. provoke, increase
Other forms: Pique can also be a noun meaning "a feeling of hurt": Believing that he hadn't been chosen for the lead in the play because he was Asian, Mike's pique was obvious to everyone.
1. to excite to action
2. to hurt the pride of
1. When Bryson started playing the piano, the sweet music piqued everyone's interest.
2. Piqued that Rory had ignored her after the game, Joanna stormed off in anger.
Synonyms: 1. provoke, increase
Other forms: Pique can also be a noun meaning "a feeling of hurt": Believing that he hadn't been chosen for the lead in the play because he was Asian, Mike's pique was obvious to everyone.
pluck (verb)
to pull off or out; to pick
When Mary first picked up the guitar all she could do was pluck at the strings. Now she plays beautifully.
Synonyms: snatch
Antonyms: insert
Other forms: Pluck can also be a noun meaning "courage": Full of pluck, Umberto jumped through the window.
to pull off or out; to pick
When Mary first picked up the guitar all she could do was pluck at the strings. Now she plays beautifully.
Synonyms: snatch
Antonyms: insert
Other forms: Pluck can also be a noun meaning "courage": Full of pluck, Umberto jumped through the window.
presume (verb)
to take for granted; to assume or suppose
I saw his crown and automatically presumed he was the king.
Synonyms: believe, figure
Antonyms: disbelieve
Other forms: You shouldn't take things for granted all the time; presumption (noun) can be dangerous. Christopher Columbus was kind of presumptuous (adj) when he landed in America and thought he was in India.
to take for granted; to assume or suppose
I saw his crown and automatically presumed he was the king.
Synonyms: believe, figure
Antonyms: disbelieve
Other forms: You shouldn't take things for granted all the time; presumption (noun) can be dangerous. Christopher Columbus was kind of presumptuous (adj) when he landed in America and thought he was in India.
emblem (noun)
a symbol or sign
The olive branch is an emblem of peace.
Synonyms: mark, token, insignia
Other forms: Joe had to admit: Getting rejected by Danielle at the dance was pretty emblematic (adj) of his bad luck recently.
a symbol or sign
The olive branch is an emblem of peace.
Synonyms: mark, token, insignia
Other forms: Joe had to admit: Getting rejected by Danielle at the dance was pretty emblematic (adj) of his bad luck recently.
patronize (verb)
1. to give one business as a customer regularly or to provide financial help
2. to treat someone as an inferior; to talk down to
1. The restaurant was largely patronized by children at lunch time.
2. Patronizing us with his fake concern, our teacher asked if we needed some pillows since it looked like we wanted to take a nap.
Synonyms: 1. buy from 2. condescend, treat like a child
Other forms: Buntha is a real patron (noun) of the arts and gives lots of money to painters. Olly gave us a patronizing (adj) look that let us know he didn't respect us.
1. to give one business as a customer regularly or to provide financial help
2. to treat someone as an inferior; to talk down to
1. The restaurant was largely patronized by children at lunch time.
2. Patronizing us with his fake concern, our teacher asked if we needed some pillows since it looked like we wanted to take a nap.
Synonyms: 1. buy from 2. condescend, treat like a child
Other forms: Buntha is a real patron (noun) of the arts and gives lots of money to painters. Olly gave us a patronizing (adj) look that let us know he didn't respect us.
lurk (verb)
to prowl or lie hidden, as though about to attack
The cat lurked in grass, waiting for a mouse to pass by.
Synonyms: creep, sneak, snoop
to prowl or lie hidden, as though about to attack
The cat lurked in grass, waiting for a mouse to pass by.
Synonyms: creep, sneak, snoop
recede (verb)
to move back or to drop to a lower level
Once Clive turned 50, his hairline began to recede.
Synonyms: withdraw, decline
Antonyms: advance, increase
to move back or to drop to a lower level
Once Clive turned 50, his hairline began to recede.
Synonyms: withdraw, decline
Antonyms: advance, increase
preview (noun)
something seen in advance
Fans were treated to a preview of the championship game when a handful of players scrimmaged on a nearby field.
Synonyms: sneak peak
Other forms: Preview can also be a verb meaning "to view beforehand," as in: Ms. Turner previewed the movie to make sure it was appropriate for her kids.
something seen in advance
Fans were treated to a preview of the championship game when a handful of players scrimmaged on a nearby field.
Synonyms: sneak peak
Other forms: Preview can also be a verb meaning "to view beforehand," as in: Ms. Turner previewed the movie to make sure it was appropriate for her kids.
mellow (adj)
soft, gentle, pleasant
Cecilia loved nothing more than spending a mellow afternoon in the garden reading and listening to music.
Synonyms: easy, relaxed
Antonyms: harsh, hard
Other forms: Mellow can also be a verb meaning "to make mellow," as in: Tony's hatred of the government mellowed as he got older.
soft, gentle, pleasant
Cecilia loved nothing more than spending a mellow afternoon in the garden reading and listening to music.
Synonyms: easy, relaxed
Antonyms: harsh, hard
Other forms: Mellow can also be a verb meaning "to make mellow," as in: Tony's hatred of the government mellowed as he got older.
exuberant (adj)
extremely enthusiastic
Carmelita was exuberant as she slid down the slide with her fists in the air.
Synonyms: energetic, enthusiastic
Antonyms: depressed, unenthusiastic
Other forms: Seeing the presents under the tree, little Sarah couldn't contain her exuberance (noun).
extremely enthusiastic
Carmelita was exuberant as she slid down the slide with her fists in the air.
Synonyms: energetic, enthusiastic
Antonyms: depressed, unenthusiastic
Other forms: Seeing the presents under the tree, little Sarah couldn't contain her exuberance (noun).
dishearten (verb)
to shake or destroy the courage of; to discourage
The basketball team, usually in good spirits, was disheartened to learn that their opponents were undefeated.
Synonyms: dismay, deject
Antonyms: encourage
to shake or destroy the courage of; to discourage
The basketball team, usually in good spirits, was disheartened to learn that their opponents were undefeated.
Synonyms: dismay, deject
Antonyms: encourage
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