II. Exercises

13/14.1 Complete this paragraph using words from the box in an appropriate form.

arrogant

dire

epitome

flaw

gorgeous

recalibrate

sink in

struck by

traits

unguarded moment

window into himself

Pausch thought a great deal about the importance of feedback, especially about one's personality and ability to get along with others. He was supremely pleased when a colleague from Carnegie-Mellon University had seen him one..................., early-spring evening, driving along in his convertible. She was ................. ..................the sight of him, a person facing a ....................medical issue who was also the .........................of a person enjoying the lovely evening. In an........................ ........................., this person had seen Randy for who he really was and had given Randy a ................. ............... ........................

Pausch recalls having strengths which were also........................ For example, he could be ....................and tactless. These ....................had served him well in some contexts, but he needed to modify and .......................his behavior for professional life. In one childhood memory, Randy recalled how his sister had put him in his place. She had had enough of his arrogance, so one day she simply threw his lunch into a mud puddle. The lesson hadn't completely.................. ............., however, so somebody else needed to teach it to him again.

13/14.2 Rewrite each sentence using the word(s) in brackets.

1. As a child, Randy was always making an effort to outdo his sister. [incessantly try]

2. Some of Pausch's qualities were not serving him well as an adult. [trait]

3. As a child, he'd been the brother who always knows everything. [ultimate know-it-all]

4. She tried to let him know what was wrong with him, but he didn't listen. [teach him a lesson; lesson didn't sink in]

5. When Pausch was unaware that anybody was watching him, he was driving in his convertible with fingers tapping and head bobbing to the music. [an unguarded moment]

6. When faced with terrible health news, some people wouldn't be able to live for the moment. [dire medical issue]

III. Categorized List

Academic Word List and other long words

adjective (s) + noun

ultimate know-it-all kid brother

an unguarded moment

a dire medical issue

adverb + verb

incessantly trying

verb + adverb

was succeeding academically

Highfalutin nouns

incompetence

traits

the epitome of

come across as arrogant and tactless

recalibrate

Idioms + other useful expressions

a warm, gorgeous, early-spring evening

his fingers were tapping

his head was bobbing along

was struck by (the sight of me)

decided she'd had enough

let her handle this

I'd been put in my place

the lesson didn't completely sink in

strengths which were also flaws

too brash

Metaphor

She had given me a window into myself.

Speaking Topic

Have you ever had a Dutch uncle? If so, how did this person help you?

If not, imagine such a person. What would he say to you? How would he (or she) give you a window into yourself?

The Last Lecture

Ch. 15 Pouring Soda in the Backseat