Three Cups of Tea — Vocabulary
Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	48
mullaha Muslim religious teacher or leader Do as the mullah says, not as he does.more Show sample from book Today was Juma, or Friday, the day mullahs unleashed their most fiery sermons to mosques packed with excitable young men.47 more mullah → mullahs:Muslim religious teachers
	35	top 2000
refugeerefugee → refugees:people who fled their homeland to getaway from a dangerous or difficult situation We're asking for humanitarian aid to assist and resettle the refugees.more Show sample from book Dempsey was offered a tempting job—establishing a hospital for Palestinian refugees on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives—but the Mortensons decided it was time for their children to experience America.†34 more refugee → refugees:people who fled their homeland Show general definition someone who has fled their homeland to getaway from a dangerous or difficult situation; or related to such people
	4	top 2000
positivecertain I'm positive I've seen her before.more Show sample from book He was positive it hadn't appeared on any map he'd ever studied of the Karakoram, and he'd studied dozens.†5 more Show general definition for positive (as in: I'm absolutely positive!) certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)
	2	top 100
positive#2positive → positively:in a good or beneficial manner Lower interest rates positively affected home sales.†more Show sample from book Mortenson marveled at the positive effects marriage had on his life.†5 more good or beneficial Show general definition for positive (as in: had a positive effect) good or beneficial
	14
9/11terrorist attacks on the U.S. on September 11, 2001, using hijacked planes to kill nearly 3,000 people Both 110-story buildings of the World Trade Center collapsed from the 9/11 attacks.more Show sample from book The response was so overwhelmingly positive that it salved the wounds of the death threats he'd received soon after 9/11.†13 more September 11, 2001; when suicide bombers hijacked US airliners and used them as missiles to kill about 3,000 people Show general definition the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, when hijacked passenger planes were flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000 people Show editor's word notes On September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists from the group al-Qaeda hijacked four U.S. passenger airplanes. Two were crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing both towers to collapse. A third plane hit the Pentagon. The fourth plane, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back. Almost 3,000 people were killed, most of them civilians and first responders. The attacks led to major changes in U.S. security policies and to long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
	12
opiuma powerful narcotic Today, other drugs have replaced opium for most medical uses.more Show sample from book Opium, arms, and carpets were the town's lifeblood, and the men he'd met since arriving seemed as shabby and disreputable as his cheap hotel.†11 more Show general definition a powerful drug made from a type of poppy; relieves pain and aids sleep, but highly addictive and dangerous when abused recreationally
	11
hospitablefriendly and welcoming The family was hospitable and made us feel at home.more Show sample from book Mouzafer was a Balti, the mountain people who populated the least hospitable high-altitude valleys in northern Pakistan.†10 more welcoming Show general definition welcoming or supportive in various senses, including: inclined to treat guests well -- as in "She is good-natured and hospitable." favorable to life and growth -- as in "The climate is hospitable to roses." open to new ideas or change -- as in "The organization is hospitable to new ideas."
	10
impoverishimpoverish → impoverished:made poor Bad economic policy has impoverished the country.more Show sample from book In this impoverished community of mud and stone huts, both Mortenson's life and the lives of northern Pakistan's children changed course.9 more impoverish → impoverished:poor Show general definition make someone poorer; or make something less valuable
	10	top 2000
allianceassociation formed to support common interests The Islamic governments formed an alliance to defeat Israel.more Show sample from book And his method of operation, hiring people with limited experience based on gut feelings, forging working alliances with necessarily unsavory characters, and, above all, winging it, while unsettling and unconventional, has moved mountains.†9 more alliance → alliances:associations formed to support common interests Show general definition an association formed to support common interests
	8	top 1000
formidableintimidating or impressive She is a formidable opponent.more Show sample from book As the river has found the only possible way through this ferociously formidable knot of mountains, there is no alternative but to follow it.†7 more Show general definition intimidating or impressive -- arousing fear or admiration due to impressiveness or challenge
	5	top 100
adaptadapt → adapted:changed (to fit this situation) Ideas contained in passages for this test, some of which are excerpted or adapted from published material, do not necessarily represent the opinions of the College Board.more Show sample from book In most respects, Mortenson proved adaptable to American culture.†4 more adapt → adaptable:able to change to fit a different situation Show context notes The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable. Show general definition for adapt (as in: adapted to the new rules) changed to fit a different situation; or made suitable
	9	top 2000
republicrepublic → republics:governmental systems in which a majority of citizens elect representatives to make laws The United States and each of its states are republics.more Show sample from book And soon Mary Bono, with an intelligence as unsettling as her looks, was being talked of as a rising star in the Republican party.8 more republic → republican:of a system of government in which a majority of citizens elect representatives … Show general definition for republic (as in: the country is a republic) of a system of government in which a majority of citizens elect representatives to make laws; or someone in favor of such a form of government
	7	top 1000
coaxgently persuade Although she has retired from public life, we are going to try to coax her to accept the award.more Show sample from book One had to water a plant before it could be coaxed to grow; children had to survive long enough to benefit from school.†6 more coax → coaxed:tried to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gently persuaded Show general definition for coax (as in: coax her to join us) try to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gentle persuasion
	6	top 1000
initiativewillingness to act independently She is smart, dedicated and has initiative. I expect to see her promoted soon.more Show sample from book When it was clear all the school projects would be completed ahead of time, Mortenson launched an ambitious array of new initiatives.†5 more initiative → initiatives:things that were started or proposed Show general definition the ability and tendency to determine what should be done and to start doing it without instruction or: to start something The exact meaning of starting something depends upon the context. For example: "She did it on her own initiative." -- started it without anyone telling her to "She seized the initiative." -- started actions that force others to react to her rather than her having to react to them "the peace initiative" -- a plan or the start of actions to bring about something "a ballot initiative" -- a proposed law that is started by citizen petition rather than by the legislature (applicable in many jurisdictions such as California)
	20
infidelinfidel → infidels:negative term for people who do not believe in the "right" religion He described the Iraqi police as a tool in the hands of crusaders and infidels.more Show sample from book Finally, as Abdul wound down and bent over Ali with his hands cocked like weapons, Mortenson distinctly heard Abdul ask Ali if he was a Muslim or an infidel.†19 more negative term for someone who does not believe in the "right" religion Show general definition a negative term describing someone as not believing in the "right" religion or god
	8
odysseylong eventful journey She told me of her odyssey leaving war-torn Syria and finally settling in Germany.more Show sample from book Jerene Mortenson had been anxiously following her son's odyssey from her new home in River Falls, Wisconsin.7 more Show general definition for odyssey (as in: her odyssey from Mexico to Texas) long eventful journey
	5
jihada holy war waged by Muslims against infidels They urged jihad against the Americans in Afghanistan.more Show sample from book But some of them seem to exist only to teach militant jihad.†4 more a holy war waged by Muslims against infidels… Show general definition a holy war waged by Muslims against infidels; or any relentless battle for a belief or more rarely: a holy struggle or striving by a Muslim for a moral, spiritual, or political goal
	2	top 200
appropriateappropriate → appropriated:set aside for a particular use The money has been appropriated, but it hasn't yet been spent.more Show sample from book The man flipped through a notebook that listed miscellaneous military appropriations.1 more appropriate → appropriations:money budgeted for a particular use Show general definition for appropriate (as in: Congress will appropriate funds) to set aside for a particular use
	4
literateable to read and write Only 25% of adults are literate in that country.more Show sample from book Someone from Pakistan helping me become computer literate so I could help Pakistani kids get literate.†3 more Show general definition able to read and write
	4
unsavoryunpleasant She has an unsavory reputation.more Show sample from book There was the unsavory product other unscrupulous merchants might sell.†3 more unpleasant or distasteful -- as from offensive morality or bad taste Show general definition unpleasant or distasteful -- as from offensive morality or bad taste