Unit 1
"Bottom of the Ninth"

Intro
I like the way you swing.
I like the way you play the game. (x2)
Everybody was charged like a battery,
The stadium was filled to capacity.
The maximum amount of fans, not the minimum,
The most. The whole crowd was cheering ‘em.
They were rocking in their seats,
While in the city, they were bopping in the streets.
The crowd was boisterous, making noise for us,
Rough, wild, loud enough, these boys are tough.
Bottom of the ninth inning, and the score was tight,
Five to four. I’m sad to report we weren’t winning.
Usually, the other team was inept at pitching,
They lacked skill in it like the park lacks ceilings.
But today, they had held back and restrained
From throwing too many balls away.
But next up to the plate (or "plato")
Was the hero of our team, El Gato.
The commentary came from an announcer
Named Dave, who commented upon the game.
He had a low voice, and he said:
"Now batting: The cat, El Gato!"
The whole crowd marveled at this marvel,
They watched him in astonishment like a model.
He was a big factor in our winning streak,
He was the reason the men and the women shrieked.
I like the way you swing.
I like the way you play the game. (x2)
He was sweating, and the cumulative effect
Of many hours in the sun: His brow was wet.
The pitcher tried to intimidate and scare him up,
He had the face of a bear and the smell of a skunk.
El Gato painstakingly tightened his gloves,
He did it very carefully, tight like hugs.
The pitcher got a strike on the first pitch that he threw,
And then El Gato swung and missed: strike number two.
Now all the fans were in pain and anguish,
Like someone had sat on their hope sandwich.
It was unanimous, everybody agreed,
That it was too exciting to sit in our seats.
Pitch three, continuous movement, no stop,
In slow-mo, until we heard a loud pop.
The ball was going, going, gone,
And the crowd erupted and exploded in a song.
I like the way you swing.
I like the way you play the game. (x3)
This song tells a dramatic story that is familiar to any baseball fan. The home team is losing by one run in the bottom of the ninth inning in an important game. The stadium is packed; the crowd is going crazy. The team has one more chance to tie the game. In this case, that chance goes by the name El Gato.
You'll learn these words: capacity, maximum, boisterous, inept, restrained, commentary, marvel, factor, cumulative, intimidate, painstaking, anguish, unanimous, continuous, erupt.
You'll learn these words: capacity, maximum, boisterous, inept, restrained, commentary, marvel, factor, cumulative, intimidate, painstaking, anguish, unanimous, continuous, erupt.
capacity (noun)
1. the largest possible amount that can be contained
2. the ability to do something
1. The auditorium is filled to capacity.
2. Luckily, I have the capacity to stay cool in hot places.
1. the largest possible amount that can be contained
2. the ability to do something
1. The auditorium is filled to capacity.
2. Luckily, I have the capacity to stay cool in hot places.
maximum (noun)
the highest allowable amount
The maximum number of horses that could fit in the stable was three.
Synonyms: utmost, limit
Antonyms: minimum
the highest allowable amount
The maximum number of horses that could fit in the stable was three.
Synonyms: utmost, limit
Antonyms: minimum
boisterous (adj)
noisy and rowdy
Cheerleaders are a very boisterous group.
Antonyms: quiet, calm
noisy and rowdy
Cheerleaders are a very boisterous group.
Antonyms: quiet, calm
inept (adj)
without skill, clumsy
Nina was completely inept at cooking a tasty meal.
Antonyms: skilled, graceful
without skill, clumsy
Nina was completely inept at cooking a tasty meal.
Antonyms: skilled, graceful
restrain (verb)
to hold back from
It was difficult for me to restrain from eating too much at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
Other forms: Danny showed his restraint (noun) by eating only a salad and a piece of bread.
to hold back from
It was difficult for me to restrain from eating too much at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
Other forms: Danny showed his restraint (noun) by eating only a salad and a piece of bread.
commentary (noun)
an explanation or interpretation
The President's speech was followed by a political commentary on the local news channel.
an explanation or interpretation
The President's speech was followed by a political commentary on the local news channel.
marvel (verb)
to wonder at
I always marvel at those at the beach who can swim for hours in that cold water.
to wonder at
I always marvel at those at the beach who can swim for hours in that cold water.
marvel (noun)
a wonderful thing or an awesome sight
Yosemite National Park is a natural marvel that takes people breath away daily.
Synonyms: a wonder, miracle
a wonderful thing or an awesome sight
Yosemite National Park is a natural marvel that takes people breath away daily.
Synonyms: a wonder, miracle
factor (noun)
a reason or circumstance
One factor that convinced Sheila to take the job was the huge salary.
Synonyms: aspect, cause
Other forms: You must factor (verb) groceries, gas and the electric bill into your budget if you are thinking of living on your own. You must include them.
a reason or circumstance
One factor that convinced Sheila to take the job was the huge salary.
Synonyms: aspect, cause
Other forms: You must factor (verb) groceries, gas and the electric bill into your budget if you are thinking of living on your own. You must include them.
cumulative (adj)
increasing by adding one thing after another
The cumulative effect of not studying for any science test all year forced me to attend summer school to remedy the F.
Other forms: Cumulative is related to accumulation (noun), which is what you get when things gather for a while, like snow.
increasing by adding one thing after another
The cumulative effect of not studying for any science test all year forced me to attend summer school to remedy the F.
Other forms: Cumulative is related to accumulation (noun), which is what you get when things gather for a while, like snow.
intimidate (verb)
to frighten, threaten, scare
Tanya always tries to intimidate Nancy before competitions by making fun of her skating ability, tripping her intentionally, and hiding her outfits.
Antonyms: to comfort, encourage
Other forms: Mr. Keller was known for using intimidation (noun) in his classroom as a technique to maintain a silent class.
to frighten, threaten, scare
Tanya always tries to intimidate Nancy before competitions by making fun of her skating ability, tripping her intentionally, and hiding her outfits.
Antonyms: to comfort, encourage
Other forms: Mr. Keller was known for using intimidation (noun) in his classroom as a technique to maintain a silent class.
painstaking (adj)
taking a lot of care or trouble; careful
Dr. Zino performed a painstaking exam of the baby looking for what could be causing his pain and constant crying.
Antonyms: careless, sloppy
Other forms: The hunter painstakingly (adverb) waited in the bushes for a duck to fly close enough for him to shoot.
taking a lot of care or trouble; careful
Dr. Zino performed a painstaking exam of the baby looking for what could be causing his pain and constant crying.
Antonyms: careless, sloppy
Other forms: The hunter painstakingly (adverb) waited in the bushes for a duck to fly close enough for him to shoot.
anguish (noun)
extreme suffering or pain
Upon hear the bad news, the girls collapsed with cries of anguish.
Other forms: Anguish is also a verb meaning "to suffer" as in: Amelia will anguish over the loss of her pet hamsters because she has raised them since they were born.
extreme suffering or pain
Upon hear the bad news, the girls collapsed with cries of anguish.
Other forms: Anguish is also a verb meaning "to suffer" as in: Amelia will anguish over the loss of her pet hamsters because she has raised them since they were born.
unanimous (adj)
in complete agreement, everyone agreed
It was a unanimous decision by the students to make summer vacation six months long.
in complete agreement, everyone agreed
It was a unanimous decision by the students to make summer vacation six months long.
continuous (adj)
without interruption or end
The continuous pounding of the saws from the construction site next door made it impossible for the baby to take a nap.
Synonyms: nonstop, constant, unbroken
without interruption or end
The continuous pounding of the saws from the construction site next door made it impossible for the baby to take a nap.
Synonyms: nonstop, constant, unbroken
erupt (verb)
to burst, explode or release suddenly
Vincent was convinced that the pimple on his face was going to erupt and gross out his friends at the lunch table.
Synonyms: to blow up, burst, gush
Other forms: The volcano's eruption (noun) surprised all of us, even the scientists who had studied it for years.
to burst, explode or release suddenly
Vincent was convinced that the pimple on his face was going to erupt and gross out his friends at the lunch table.
Synonyms: to blow up, burst, gush
Other forms: The volcano's eruption (noun) surprised all of us, even the scientists who had studied it for years.
The stadium was filled to _____.
Capacity
How was the crowd acting?
Boisterously
What was the score at the bottom of the ninth?
Five to four
Which player was the largest factor in the team's winning streak?
El Gato
What does "continuous" mean?
Nonstop





