Adverbs: Functions, Types, Placement, and MeaningPart VII: Adverbs

UnitOverviewIn thisunit, particular emphasisisgivento:Sentenceorviewpointadverbs (actually, clearly, hopefully)Focusadverbs: Changingthe position of a focusadverboftenchangesthemeaning of a sentence (Onlyteenagers can attend. Teenagers can onlyattend.).Negative and otheradverbsrequiringinversion (Rarely do peoplemake a career of themilitary.)

Background NotesCall-in radio and TV programs are very popular in theUnitedStates and oftengivelistenersorviewersthe chance toexpressopinionson controversial issues. In thereading, thetheme of discussingdivisivetopicsfocusesonmilitaryservice; in particular, thereading explores questionsconcerningthedraft (thesystem in whichpeoplemustjointhemilitary) and women in themilitary and in combat.

VocabularyControversial: causing a lot of disagreement, becausemanypeoplehavestrongopinionsaboutthesubjectbeingdiscussed.Voluntary: done willingly, withoutbeingforcedorwithoutbeingpaid.Combat: organizedfighting, especially in a war.Stereotype: an idea of what a particular group of peopleislikethatmanypeoplehave, especiallyonethatiswrongorunfair.Spirited: havingenergy and determinationorshowinghisquality.

VocabularyAdopt: toformallyapprove a proposal, especiallybyvoting.Vaccine: a substancewhichcontains a weakform of the bacteria or virus that causes a disease and isusedtoprotectpeoplefromthatdisease.Gambling: thepractice of riskingmoneyorpossessionsbecauseyoumightwin a lot more if a cardgame, race, etc. has theresultyouwant.Lottery: a gameusedtomakemoneyfor a stateor a charity in whichpeoplebuynumbered tickets, so thatiftheirnumberispickedby chance, theywinmoneyor a prize.Dam: a specialwallbuiltacross a river, stream, etc. to stop thewaterfromflowing.

VocabularyMilitaryrecruiter: someonewhofinds new peopletojointhemilitary.Cloning: makinganexactcopy of a plantor animal bytaking a cellfromit and developingitartificially.Stomp: towalkwith heavy stepsortoputyourfootdownveryhard, especiallybecauseyou are angry.Roamaround: togoaroundwith no clearpurposeordirection.

ComprehensionQuestionsWhatis Mike Burns’sopinion of themilitary in general?Serviceshouldbevoluntary. A lot of evilthingshavebeen done bymilitaryforces. Maybeweshouldn’tevenhavethem.Does Burns thinkthatwomen are tooweaktoserve?No, he doesn’tthinkfightingisfeminine.

ComprehensionQuestionsWhatdoes Sarah Lopezthinkaboutvoluntarymilitaryservice?Shethinksmilitaryserviceshouldberequired.WhatisLopez’sreasonforsupportingrequiredmilitaryservice?It’stheonlywaytoensurefairtreatmentforall.Does Sarah Lopezbelievethatcombatisfeminine?Yes.