1. List 38
function
idle
overcome
primary
theme
Function—noun; purpose, action, activity, part
(func/tion)
Fun/ction/al—adj
Func/tion/al/ly—adv
The function of a teacher is to help people learn.
Some people don’t know all the functions of their cell phone.
What is the function of an education?
Antonym – inaction, idleness, inactivity
Idle—adj; not busy, free, inactive
(i/dle)
id/ly—adv
When people are idle, they like to read or play games.
There are some people who are never idle; they prefer to stay busy.
What do you like to do when you’re idle?
Antonym – busy, occupied, active
Overcome - verb; to beat, to win against, to achieve a victory over
(o/ver/come)
Most of the students in this school have had to overcome something to be here.
They might have to overcome a busy schedule, learning difficulties, or
unsupportive families.
What have you had to overcome to be who you are and where you are right
now?
Antonym – lose, give up, fail, surrender
Primary—adj; main, most important
(pri/ma/ry)
Pri/ma/ri/ly—adv
The primary reason I am a teacher is because I like to help people learn.
The primary way I get to school is via I-494.
What is your primary reason for coming to school?
Antonym – secondary, inessential, last
Theme—noun; idea, thought, topic, message, subject
Stories usually have a theme. For instance, Romeo and Juliet is about the theme
of barriers to love.
You might have to write a paper someday on the theme of communication.
What type of theme do you think you could easily write a paper on?
2. Antonym – inactivity, dullness, freeze
List 38
function
idle
overcome
primary
theme
Definitions
1. ___________________ most important; major
2. ___________________ to win in a struggle over; defeat
3. ___________________ the expected activity of a person or thing; purpose; role
4. ___________________ not dong anything; inactive
5. ___________________ the main subject
Fill in the Blank
6. It is clear that the ___________________ reason her aunt’s boyfriend likes her is
her money.
7. When the boss is just staring out the window; she may look
___________________, but she is really thinking.
8. Dances often have a special ___________________ such as “Winter
Wonderland.”
9. Before Cara can visit her grandparents in Italy, she needs to
___________________ her fear of flying.
10.A pen and a pencil have the same ___________________.
Word Match
3. 11. The salespeople didn’t have anybody to help. _____ a. function
12. Your most important goal is to get a good job. _____ b. idle
13. Juan is in a wheelchair, but he is excellent at
basketball anyway.
_____ c. overcome
14. I read a book about how to survive divorce. _____ d. primary
15. The red light on the dashboard of my car tells me
when I need oil.
_____ e. theme
Antonyms
16.function
a. subject
b. purpose
c. fact
d. no meaning
17.theme
a. safety
b. use
c. detail
d. subject
18.idle
a. new
b. active
c. stiff
d. grateful
19.overcome
a. win
b. continue
c. follow
d. give in to
20.primary
a. least expensive
b. not enough
c. least important
d. not prepared
Yes/No/Why
4. 21.Could a bicycle function as your primary mode of transportation? How?
22.Would you be able to write a paragraph on the theme of good and evil? What
would you say?
23.Would you like to be idle every day? What would you do?
24.Would a person in a wheelchair have to overcome discrimination? How?
25.Could the primary reason a person gets a college degree be to make lots of
money?
