VOCABULARY UNIT 1Theme: WALL-E

In WALL-E, humans have adulterated the Earth’s atmosphere with centuries of collected pollutants, forcing its inhabitants to live elsewhere.

adulterate to corrupt, make worse by the addition of

something of lesser value

WALL-E makes ambidextrous use of the junk remaining on Earth to create beautiful objects that impress EVE.

ambidextrous able to use both hands equally well; very

skillful; deceitful, hypocritical

In order to augment his collection, WALL-E regularly scours the abandoned planet for artifacts from human habitation .

augment to make larger, increase

Bereft after EVE goes into hibernation, WALL-E continues to woo her, watching sunsets in the park and protecting her from the rain.

bereft deprived of; made unhappy through a

loss

WALL- E was originally one of many robots deployed to clean up Earth, but he is the only one left.

deploy to position or arrange; to utilize; to form

up

EVE appears very dour at first, blasting WALL-E with her plasma cannon when she fears he is interrupting her mission.

dour stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored

EVE and the other robots show great fortitude in helping the injured WALL-E escape.

fortitude courage in facing difficulties

Once back on Earth after hundreds of years, the humans gape at their strange surroundings.

gape to stare with open mouth; to open the

mouth wide; to open wide

Some film critics consider WALL-E a gibe at a consumer culture which creates unsustainable waste and adds little to quality of life.

gibe to utter taunting words; an expression of

scorn

Humans are kept constantly entertained and distracted under the guise of care for their well being.

guise an external appearance, cover, mask

The personal television screens and constant food are insidious devices meant to keep humans docile.

insidious intended to deceive or entrap; sly,

treacherous

WALL-E’s discovery of the plant gave no intimation of what was to follow.

intimation a hint, indirect suggestion

The humans live an opulent life on the spaceship compared to the bleak one on Earth.

opulent wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose

M-O needs pliable arms in order to clean as efficiently as he does.

pliable easily bent, flexible; easily influenced

The computer reiterated its warning not to override its directives.

reiterate to say again, repeat

EVE is no longer stolid by the end of the movie, and returns WALL-E’s affection.

stolid not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull; unresponsive

The humans’ plans to return to earth were only tentative, and 700 years later they had not been carried out.

tentative experimental in nature; uncertain;

hesitant

M-O does not tolerate anyone looking unkempt and attempts to clean anything in sight.

unkempt not combed; untidy; not properly

maintained; unpolished, rude

WALL-E watches the same old movie clip so often, he can probably repeat it verbatim.

verbatim word for word; exactly as written or

spoken

The Captain warily attempted to override the computer, fearing the unknown consequences.

warily cautiously, with great care