Literatury Focus . Climbing the Ladder.

Word Study
Mere- nothing else than; only; simple; Grin - to smile bloadly; Scornful- showing contempt ; mocking; Inconspicuous- attracting little or no attention; Alpaca-a domesticed mammal of South American with long , soft, silly wool ; Affable polite and friendly; Culvert- a small channel for water to run under around , bridge,canal, etc; Straggling scattered at a distance from one another; Asinine- obviously silly ;

Phrases and Idioms

To outshine someone to be more brilliant than; to surpass; To buck up- to be enterprinsing; To come to no good to end up badly or as a failure;to come to a bad end; At close quarters- very close together; almost touching; To look embarrassed to look uncomfortable, ashamed; To be of service to- to be helpful (to); To hold out on somebody- to withhold (information) from somebody;