READING 2 OF 23 focus words
Context study 2
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
The director valued honest criticism more than the praise of a sycophant. The chair redirected a tangential discussion about the furniture. A timorous voice asked whether the bridge was safe.
The satire surrounds its vain ruler with a sycophant at every door. His observation was interesting but tangential to the central question. The once timorous speaker grew confident with practice.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.