Unit 2: Snapshots of BC Culture
Bold and Bright: Sook-Yin Lee
Reading Strategy
In the last chapter, you learned how a bigger vocabulary can help you read. One way to build your vocabulary is to study synonyms.
Synonyms are words that have nearly the same meaning. Think about the word strange. This circle shows some synonyms for strange:
Some dictionaries give you a synonym along with the definition. Dictionaries often put SYN before the list of synonyms for a word.
Try this
1. Look up wonderful in your dictionary. Does it give a list of synonyms? If not, ask your instructor for a thesaurus to do this task. A thesaurus is a book that gives synonyms for words.
2. Ask your instructor for a SYN Circles sheet, or open and print one from the link.
3. Choose four words from the box below. Put each of your words into a circle.
| violent | strict | fearless | smart |
| funny | sad | joyful | bold |
4. Find three synonyms for each word that you chose. Choose synonyms that you can sound out. Add them to the correct circle.
5. Write a sentence for each word you picked from the box.
Word Attack Strategy
In the last chapter, you learned about the suffixes –ar, –or, –er, and –est. In this chapter, you will learn about the suffixes –less and –ful.
Word Patterns
The suffix –less means “without.”
For example:
- Fearless means without fear.
- Homeless means without a home.
- Careless means without care.
The suffix –ful means “full of.”
For example:
- Fearful means full of fear.
- Careful means full of care.
- Beautiful means full of beauty.
Complete these sentences
1. Hopeless means ______________________________.
2. Powerless means ______________________________.
3. Tasteless means ______________________________.
Complete these sentences
4. Joyful means ______________________________.
5. Restful means ______________________________.
6. Tearful means ______________________________.
Complete the sentence with the best word from the box
7. People who skydive are ______________________________.
8. The ____________________ child raced down the hill on her sled.
9. The sunset is ______________________________.
10. My day off work was very ______________________________.
11. I was being _____________________________ and I broke a glass.
Use Your Strategies
Now it’s time to read Bold and Bright: Sook-Yin Lee. You will come across many of the synonyms and suffixes you looked at in this chapter. Use what you have learned to help you make sense of and enjoy the text.
Check Your Understanding
Put these events from Sook-Yin’s life in order
1. She grew up in North Vancouver.
2. She became a radio show host on CBC.
3. Her sister died.
4. CBC almost fired her for being in a movie called Shortbus.
5. She ran away from home with her sister.
6. She became a VJ on MuchMusic.
7. She kept her job.
8. People spoke out for her right to express herself.
9. She joined a band called Bob’s Your Uncle.
Try this
10. What does “Jill of all trades” mean?
11. Why is Sook-Yin Lee called a “Jill of all trades”?
Grammar
When we talk, we often blend our words together. We do not say, “What is going on?” We say, “What’s going on?” This is called a “contraction.”
Grammar Rule
A contraction is a word made by putting two words together and leaving some letters out. An apostrophe (’) shows that letters have been left out.
Here are some examples:
| I am = I’m | you are = you’re | we are = we’re |
| she is = she’s | he is = he’s | it is = it’s |
| that is = that’s | they are = they’re | do not = don’t |
| did not = didn’t | does not = doesn’t |
Look at these sentences from the reading
Find the contractions. Rewrite the sentences without contractions.
1. She’s a musician, actor, writer, filmmaker, and broadcaster.
2. She says stories are how she makes sense of a world that’s both strange and wonderful.
3. She became the lead singer of a Vancouver-based punk band called Bob’s Your Uncle.
4. What makes Sook-Yin different is that she doesn’t hold back.
5. So CBC didn’t fire her after all.
Try contractions
Choose two of the contractions from the Grammar Rule box above. Write a sentence for each one.
Writing
Listen to the first 12 minutes of this podcast of Definitely Not the Opera with Sook-Yin Lee.
Writing Task
Write a paragraph to review the show. Did you like it? Why or why not? Correctly use at least two contractions.
Begin your review like this:
In October 2014, Sook-Yin Lee looked at how art can change your life on her radio show, Definitely Not the Opera. I thought the show was…
When you have finished:
- Check for words you could change for a more interesting synonym.
- Check that you correctly used at least two contractions.
- Give your review to your instructor for feedback.
- Make changes based on your instructor’s feedback.
- Hand in your first and final copy.
Answer Key
| Word Attack Strategy | |
| QUESTION | ANSWER |
| 1 | without hope |
| 2 | without power |
| 3 | without taste |
| 4 | full of joy |
| 5 | full of rest |
| 6 | full of tears |
| 7 | fearless |
| 8 | joyful |
| 9 | beautiful |
| 10 | restful |
| 11 | careless |
| Check Your Understanding | |
| QUESTION | ANSWER |
| 1 | She grew up in North Vancouver. |
| 5 | She ran away from home with her sister. |
| 3 | Her sister died. |
| 9 | She joined a band called Bob’s Your Uncle. |
| 6 | She became a VJ on MuchMusic. |
| 2 | She became a radio show host on CBC. |
| 4 | CBC almost fired her for being in a movie called Shortbus. |
| 8 | People spoke out for her right to express herself. |
| 7 | She kept her job. |
| 10 | Jill of all trades describes someone who can do a little bit of everything. |
| 11 | Sook-Yin Lee is called a “Jill of all trades” because she has done many different jobs in the arts. |
| Grammar | ||
| QUESTION | ANSWER | |
| 1 | She is a musician, actor, writer, filmmaker, and broadcaster. | |
| 2 | She says stories are how she makes sense of a world that is both strange and wonderful. | |
| 3 | She became the lead singer of a Vancouver-based punk band called Bob is Your Uncle. | |
| 4 | What makes Sook-Yin different is that she does not hold back. | |
| 5 | So CBC did not fire her after all. | |
