The World of Words: Vocabulary for College Success ... - eLibrary

Words to Learn 369Naturally occurring fires play a key role in the ecologyof forests.In 2006, when the ecology of Siberian Lake Baikalwas threatened by a pipeline, Marina Rikhvanovacampaigned successfully to have it moved. Related Wordsecological (adjective) (ĕkə-lŏj˘-kəl) Rain containing a high levelof acid has ruined the ecological balance of many lakes andponds.ecologist (noun) Ecologists have established that alewives, fishonce considered a nuisance, play an essential role in LakeMichigan’s food chain.Coltan and EcologyA search for columbite-tantalite, or “coltan,” is dramatically affecting the ecologyof Central Africa. This metallic ore is used in cell phones. Searching for coltan,laborers dig up land, destroying soil and trees, as well as polluting streams.Farmers are driven from their homes when competing military factions battlefor control of coltan reserves. In response, a campaign of “No blood on my cellphone” has been launched to prevent the use of coltan. However, there areconflicting ecological and economic interests. Coltan mining harms the land butprovides badly needed work for people.6. loquacious (adjective) lō-kwāshəsFrom Greek: loq- (speak)very talkativeCopyright © Cengage Learning. All Right Reserved.The talk show host silenced the loquacious guest by callingfor a commercial. Related Wordloquaciousness (noun) The loquaciousness of the two teenagersannoyed the man who was trying to read in the airplane.7. monologue (noun) mŏnə-lôgFrom Greek: mono (one) log (speak)a speech or performance by one personAt the club meeting, the president unexpectedly started themeeting with a twenty-minute monologue about theneed to change the rules.In Hamlet’s monologue “To be or not to be,” Shakespeare examinesthe mind of a person who cannot make a decision.