Unit 9
"Battle for the Road"
This song includes seventh grade vocabulary words that students are likely to encounter on state tests. It teaches the following words: congested, customary, distraught, drone, ensue, feud, flagrant, hybrid, impede, infuriate, momentum, nomadic, trickle, upright and vindictive. In this song, witness the craziness of New York City driving, when an argument between a pedestrian and a driver turns into a full-scale battle.
Intro
It’s the battle for the road! People walk, people drive,
Turning friends into foes! You don’t want to be outside
When the battle for the road pops off, and don’t try
To just stand there and watch. No, you’ve got to take sides.
Meet Connie Walker, an upright citizen,
Both in the sense of being honest and innocent,
And upright because she likes to walk in
The city she lives in—she’s a pedestrian.
Does Connie ever drive, though? Nope, guess again.
She walks so much her shoes are padded,
She’s always on the move so they call her nomadic,
But she couldn’t stand the constant drone of traffic.
The steady noise in the background really tested
Her patience, the roads in the city were congested,
Clogged up, backed up, and she was stressing.
The noise and the smoke made her feel aggressive,
Even vindictive; she wanted to get some
Revenge on the cars for blocking her momentum.
Yeah, her forward motion was stalled, and then some.
So as Connie walks around she keeps scheming
On ways to stop the flow of cars, to impede it,
Or at least get it off the street that she needed.
So she put up a fake road sign to block traffic,
And mass confusion went down and ensued.
It’s the battle for the road! People walk, people drive,
Turning friends into foes! You don’t want to be outside
When the battle for the road pops off, and don’t try
To just stand there and watch. No, you’ve got to take sides.
Meet Tommy Carson, calm and silent,
Driving to work in his brand-new hybrid,
With gas and electric combined inside to keep it gliding,
Stopped, couldn’t believe his eyes when
He saw the road signs in his customary path,
Every day he went the same way, there and back.
And he saw Connie Walker blocking the pavement,
Waving a sign, and he thought, "This is flagrant.
She’s breaking the law and rubbing it in my face and
I’m supposed to take it?" He was infuriated,
Mad and shaking, but he was late.
So he found another way and the next day came back,
With eight friends driving hatchbacks and Pontiacs.
And there was Connie relaxing, still blocking the road,
With traffic slowed to a trickle, just a little flow.
But she had six friends with her this time, though.
But Tommy wasn’t trying to stop, he just thought,
"Why not?" And drove past Connie on the sidewalk.
Now who’s breaking the law? Yelling for cops,
The pedestrians all left the spot feeling distraught,
Really upset, what happens next?
Another day, another battle, another angry mood.
If the battle lasts long enough, call it a feud.
You’ll probably hear all about it on the evening news.
It’s the battle for the road! People walk, people drive,
Turning friends into foes! You don’t want to be outside
When the battle for the road pops off, and don’t try
To just stand there and watch. No, you’ve got to take sides. (x2)
I don't know how it is where you live, but in New York City, the relationship between drivers and pedestrians can get tense at times. Some pedestrians don't like to wait for the "walk" signal; some drivers get impatient waiting for pedestrians to cross. This song takes this basic idea and pushes it further: What if this little conflict turned into a full-scale battle?
You'll learn these words: congested, customary, distraught, drone, ensue, feud, flagrant, hybrid, impede, infuriate, momentum, nomadic, trickle, upright, vindictive.
You'll learn these words: congested, customary, distraught, drone, ensue, feud, flagrant, hybrid, impede, infuriate, momentum, nomadic, trickle, upright, vindictive.
upright (adj)
1. vertical, straight
2. good, honest
1. The trees in the forest stood tall and upright.
2. Some people think all politicians lie, but I've met a few upright politicians.
Other forms: Upright is a very flexible word and can be used as a noun or an adverb as well: Standing upright (adverb), the football player kicked the ball through the uprights (noun) for a field goal.
1. vertical, straight
2. good, honest
1. The trees in the forest stood tall and upright.
2. Some people think all politicians lie, but I've met a few upright politicians.
Other forms: Upright is a very flexible word and can be used as a noun or an adverb as well: Standing upright (adverb), the football player kicked the ball through the uprights (noun) for a field goal.
nomadic (adj)
moving about from place to place without settling down
The family lived a nomadic lifestyle, and they traveled with a tent that was easily moved.
Other forms: A nomad (noun) is someone who wanders from place to place.
moving about from place to place without settling down
The family lived a nomadic lifestyle, and they traveled with a tent that was easily moved.
Other forms: A nomad (noun) is someone who wanders from place to place.
drone (noun)
1. a remote-controlled device
2. a buzzing or humming sound that lasts for a long time
3. a male bee
1. Instead of sending in jet planes with actual pilots in them, the Air Force has been using more drones to drop bombs on its enemies.
2. The drone of the refrigerator was really annoying.
3. Drones are interesting creatures, since they don't gather pollen, make honey, or sting. Other forms: Drone can also be a verb meaning either "to make a buzzing or humming sound" or "to speak in a dull tone of voice": While the soda machine droned in the hallway, the teacher droned on and on about the meaning of certain words in the classroom.
1. a remote-controlled device
2. a buzzing or humming sound that lasts for a long time
3. a male bee
1. Instead of sending in jet planes with actual pilots in them, the Air Force has been using more drones to drop bombs on its enemies.
2. The drone of the refrigerator was really annoying.
3. Drones are interesting creatures, since they don't gather pollen, make honey, or sting. Other forms: Drone can also be a verb meaning either "to make a buzzing or humming sound" or "to speak in a dull tone of voice": While the soda machine droned in the hallway, the teacher droned on and on about the meaning of certain words in the classroom.
congested (adj)
overcrowded; filled too full
During rush hour, the city streets were congested.
Antonyms: clear, unblocked
Other forms: Because of the congestion (noun) in his nose, Ben had to breathe through his mouth.
overcrowded; filled too full
During rush hour, the city streets were congested.
Antonyms: clear, unblocked
Other forms: Because of the congestion (noun) in his nose, Ben had to breathe through his mouth.
vindictive (adj)
bearing a grudge; eager to take revenge
Ever since I took away my cat's bowl before he finished, he has been very vindictive towards me.
Synonyms: vengeful, unforgiving, spiteful
Antonyms: forgiving
bearing a grudge; eager to take revenge
Ever since I took away my cat's bowl before he finished, he has been very vindictive towards me.
Synonyms: vengeful, unforgiving, spiteful
Antonyms: forgiving
momentum (noun)
the force or speed with which something moves
A Newton's cradle demonstrates conservation of momentum.
Synonyms: drive, power, thrust
the force or speed with which something moves
A Newton's cradle demonstrates conservation of momentum.
Synonyms: drive, power, thrust
impede (verb)
to get in the way of; to interfere with the movement of
In the video game, the evil mushrooms are meant to impede your progress and make the level challenging.
Synonyms: slow, delay, obstruct, hinder
Antonyms: advance, encourage
to get in the way of; to interfere with the movement of
In the video game, the evil mushrooms are meant to impede your progress and make the level challenging.
Synonyms: slow, delay, obstruct, hinder
Antonyms: advance, encourage
ensue (verb)
to follow; to come as a result of
The riot caused chaos to ensue.
Synonyms: result, come next
Antonyms: precede, come before
to follow; to come as a result of
The riot caused chaos to ensue.
Synonyms: result, come next
Antonyms: precede, come before
hybrid (adj)
made from unlike parts; combining different elements
Some new hybrid vehicles run on both vegetable oil and electricity.
Other forms: Hybrid can also be a noun meaning either "something made from unlike parts or by combining different elements" or "the offspring of two distinct plants or animals of different varieties": So the dog, who was a pug-Rottweiler hybrid, jumped into the back of the hybrid.
made from unlike parts; combining different elements
Some new hybrid vehicles run on both vegetable oil and electricity.
Other forms: Hybrid can also be a noun meaning either "something made from unlike parts or by combining different elements" or "the offspring of two distinct plants or animals of different varieties": So the dog, who was a pug-Rottweiler hybrid, jumped into the back of the hybrid.
customary (adj)
usual, normal, routine
It isn't customary to fall asleep at your desk when you should be working.
Synonyms: usual, conventional
Antonyms: unusual, rare
Other forms: One of the customs (noun) of Spain is the siesta: a long nap after lunch.
usual, normal, routine
It isn't customary to fall asleep at your desk when you should be working.
Synonyms: usual, conventional
Antonyms: unusual, rare
Other forms: One of the customs (noun) of Spain is the siesta: a long nap after lunch.
flagrant (adj)
shockingly noticeable or evident, usually in a disgraceful way
Annette committed a flagrant error: She forgot to put on her seatbelt.
Synonyms: striking, undisguised
Antonyms: hidden, concealed
shockingly noticeable or evident, usually in a disgraceful way
Annette committed a flagrant error: She forgot to put on her seatbelt.
Synonyms: striking, undisguised
Antonyms: hidden, concealed
infuriate (verb)
to make extremely angry or furious
Jillian was infuriated that her day at the beach was ruined by rain.
Synonyms: anger, enrage
Antonyms: make happy, please
to make extremely angry or furious
Jillian was infuriated that her day at the beach was ruined by rain.
Synonyms: anger, enrage
Antonyms: make happy, please
trickle (noun)
to fall by drops or to flow in a small stream
Tears trickled down her cheeks when she realized that her lost dog wasn't coming home.
Synonyms: drip, dribble
Other forms: Trickle can also be a noun, meaning "a small irregular quantity of something": Kato's income from his dog-walking business had slowed to a trickle.
to fall by drops or to flow in a small stream
Tears trickled down her cheeks when she realized that her lost dog wasn't coming home.
Synonyms: drip, dribble
Other forms: Trickle can also be a noun, meaning "a small irregular quantity of something": Kato's income from his dog-walking business had slowed to a trickle.
distraught (adj)
troubled and disturbed emotionally
Distraught after breaking up with her first boyfriend, Jana decided to cut off all her hair.
Synonyms: upset, agitated
Antonyms: calm, happy
troubled and disturbed emotionally
Distraught after breaking up with her first boyfriend, Jana decided to cut off all her hair.
Synonyms: upset, agitated
Antonyms: calm, happy
feud (noun)
a bitter, long-term argument or hostility
Because of a longstanding feud between their two families, Romeo and Juliet had to elope.
Synonyms: conflict, quarrel
Antonyms: agreement, peace
Other forms: The two families had been feuding (verb) for years.
a bitter, long-term argument or hostility
Because of a longstanding feud between their two families, Romeo and Juliet had to elope.
Synonyms: conflict, quarrel
Antonyms: agreement, peace
Other forms: The two families had been feuding (verb) for years.
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