Futuristic Slang in Feed

Directions: Using context clues from the sentences in the novel, determine the part of speech of the futuristic slang words and translate them into current slang words. Then provide a definition for those slang words in your own terms. If you do not think that there is a slang term for the Feed word, just provide a definition. At the bottom of the page, choose a non-slang word that gave you difficulty when reading. Try to define it using context clues, and then look up the definition in the dictionary to see how well you predicted the definition.

Feed Slang / Part of Speech / Current Slang Translation / Definition of Current Slang
Null – page 1
Unit/unette – page 1, 2, 6
Skip – page 4
Youch – page 5, 21, 34
Bonesprocket – page 6
Limp – page 12
Cranked/weasel-faced – page 30/33
Big – page 34
Squelch – page 45
Smarm – page 54

Addition context clue exercise:

Word from Feed: ______page: ______

Predicted definition from context clues: ______

______

Dictionary Definition: ______

______

Instructor’s Key - Futuristic Slang in Feed

Note that these answers are only possibilities, and that students may know more about the meanings of current slang than teachers do. The purpose of the exercise is to decipher meanings from context clues, and using the slang is a way of relating an important skill to students’ everyday lives.

Directions: Using context clues from the sentences in the novel, determine the part of speech of the futuristic slang words and translate them into current slang words. Then provide a definition for those slang words in your own terms. If you do not think that there is a slang term for the Feed word, just provide a definition. At the bottom of the page, choose a non-slang word that gave you difficulty when reading. Try to define it using context clues, and then look up the definition in the dictionary to see how well you predicted the definition.

Feed Slang / Part of Speech / Current Slang Translation / Definition of Current Slang
Null – page 1 / Adjective / Bored / Bored.
Unit/unette – page 1, 2, 6 / Noun / Dude/dudette / Fellow, chap.*
Skip – page 4 / Adjective / Pumped/stoked / Exhilarated, excited.*
Youch – page 5, 21, 34 / Adjective / Hott / Attractive, good-looking.
Bonesprocket – page 6 / Noun / Loser / A person who has failed at a particular activity; misfit.*
Limp – page 12 / Adjective / Lame / Out of touch with modern trends or fads; unsophisticated.*
Cranked/weasel-faced – page 30/33 / Adjective / Messed up / Drunk.
Big – page 34 / Adjective / Mad / Very/Really.
Squelch – page 45 / Adjective / Nasty / Gross, crude.
Smarm – page 54 / Adjective / Dumb / Dumb, stupid.

( * denotes that the definition of the current slang is from Dictionary.com)

Addition context clue exercise: (There is no specific right answer for this. It depends on which word they chose to investigate from the novel.)

Word from Feed: ______page: ______

Predicted definition from context clues: ______

______

Dictionary Definition: ______

______