Chapter6

<Story>

The ceremony has started at Auditorium. Every year has different changes. The Ones join into a family unit. The Sevens get front-buttoned jacket. The Eights get Volunteer hours. Nines get bicycles. The Tens need to snip their long braids. And the Twelves get Assignment. Gabe was not in the ceremony since he was not mature enough. His ceremony was reprieved by the committee. Lily became Eight, and she was very proud of it. Jonas and Ash are anxiously waiting the ceremony of Twelve, talking about the possibility of unwilling Assignment. In the community, if the person was released once, s/he would never return. When people leave the community, there is two ways. One is “Loss” which means an accidental death. The other is “Release” which means leaving from the community by committee’s decision.

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<Impressions>

When I read each age’s different custom, I associated their custom with ancient time. When we compare with our 21^st century modern life, the story looks totally weird. However, it might be happened in our ancient time around 300 BC to AD 300 or in some present minority races’ society. Especially, “Sniping braids” and “Release” are interesting, and I can imagine that people were simply killed by sword or rock when they against the rule. However, this community’s citizens seem to be not under the stress or fear by the control. That’s why I can still peacefully accept this story. No bleeding, no crying, and no King. The atmosphere is still very calm and very peaceful. Hmmmm myserious:O

 

<My new words>
1. fidget/v/ˈfɪdʒɪt/ to keep moving your body, your hands or your feet because you are nervous, bored, excited, etc
>Sit still and stop fidgeting!

2. emblem/n/ ˈembləm/something that represents a perfect example or a principle
>The bicycle would be the powerful emblem of moving gradually out into the community, away from the protective family unit.

3. wriggle/v/ˈrɪɡl/ to twist and turn your body or part of it with quick short movements
>She grinned and wriggled away from her mother.

4. appeal/n/ əˈpiːl/ a formal request to a court or to somebody in authority for a judgement or a decision to be changed
>I will put in an appeal

5. auditorium/n/ ˌɔːdɪˈtɔːriəm/ the part of a theatre, concert hall, etc. in which the audience sits
>I want to get a good seat in the Auditorium

6. lap/n/ læp/ the top part of your legs that forms a flat surface when you are sitting down
>He sat on his laps.

7. indulgently/adv/ ɪnˈdʌldʒəntli / tending to allow somebody to have or do whatever they want
>They all smiled indulgently.

8. reprieve/n/ rɪˈpriːv/ an official order stopping a punishment, especially for a prisoner who is condemned to death
>He was given special reprieve from the committee.

9. plea/n/ pliː/ an urgent emotional request
>As a result of Father’s plea, Gabe had been labeled Uncertain and given the additional year.

10. pledge/n/ pledʒ/ a serious promise
>Each family was required to sign a pledge.

11.poke/v/ poʊk/ to quickly push your fingers or another object into somebody/something
>Ash poked Jonas’s arm.

12.applause/n/ əˈplɔːz/ the noise made by a group of people clapping their hands and sometimes shouting to show their approval or enjoyment
>The audience applause.

13.gleaming/adj/ ˈɡliːmɪŋ/ shining brightly
>Lily was looking longingly at the row of gleaming bicycle.

14. awkward/ adj/ˈɔːkwərd/ difficult to deal with
>Fritz was a very awkward child who had been summoned for chastisement again and again.

15.snip/v/ snɪp/ to cut something with scissors using short quick strokes
>Each children’s hair was snipped.

*Discovery*
1.
I asked the difference between "sleek " and "gleaming "  to my British colleague.
He  said "sleek is more smooth and gleaming is more shinny". In the story, they were used as following...."skeek jet" and "gleaming bicycle". Hmmmm. ok, I will remember them:)

2.
"Laptop" means that the computer which you can put on your LAPS!!!