Objective
To recognize and use the definitions in a glossary as they relate to a text.

Step 1: Read the following passage adapted from the textbook The Essentials of American Government. The words in bold print are accompanied by a glossary definition that you can read by clicking on each word. Use the glossary to answer the questions that follow. Your instructor will tell you whether to write your answers in your book or to submit your answers online for electronic grading. If you are completing the activity in your book, you may want to refer to the excerpt on your computer screen.

The Media Campaign. What voters actually see and hear of the candidate is primarily determined by the paid media (such as television advertising) accompanying the campaign and the free media (newspaper and television coverage). The two kinds of media are fundamentally different: Paid advertising is completely under the control of the campaign; whereas the press is totally independent. Great care is taken in the design of the television advertising, which takes many approaches.

Positive ads stress the candidate’s qualifications, family, and issue positions with no direct reference to the opponent. These are usually favored by the incumbent candidate. Negative ads attack the opponent’s character and platform and may not even mention the candidate who is paying for their airing (except for a brief, legally required identification a the ad’s conclusion). In 1996 Steve Forbes made extensive use of negative ads prior to the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary, spending millions denouncing then front-runner Bob Dole. These attacks prompted Dole to tag Forbes “the king of negative advertising,” before unleashing some negative ads of his own. These ads contributed to the generally held belief that the early stages of the 1996 Republican nomination battle was one of the most vicious ever witnessed. Contrast ads compare the records and proposals of the candidates with a bias toward the sponsor. And whether the public likes them or not, all three kinds of ads can inject important (as well as trivial) issues into a campaign.

Occasionally advertisements are relatively long (ranging from four-and-one-half-minute ads to thirty-minute documentaries). Usually, however, the messages are short spot ads, sixty, thirty, or even ten seconds long.

     —Adapted from O’Connor & Sabato, Essentials, pp. 351-353

Step 2: Choose the best word or phrase to complete each sentence. For some items, you may need to use your dictionary and context clues from the reading passage.

		1. A campaign presentation that does not mention the opponent but stresses a candidate’s stand on certain issues as well as his or her qualifications is a _______________.    paid media   free media   positive ad   negative ad   contrast ad   spot ad
		2. An ad that lasts only ten seconds is a _________________________.    paid media   free media   positive ad   negative ad   contrast ad   spot ad
		3. A _____________________ compares the records of both candidates but presents one in a more favorable light than the other.    paid media   free media   positive ad   negative ad   contrast ad   spot ad
		4. ___________ is coverage of a candidate’s campaign by the news media such as newspapers and television and would most likely present the positive and negative aspects of the person.    paid media   free media   positive ad   negative ad   contrast ad   spot ad
		5. A ____________________ might present the sponsoring candidate in a favorable light while criticizing the opponent’s character.    paid media   free media   positive ad   negative ad   contrast ad   spot ad
		Step 3: Using your dictionary and context clues, determine which definition corresponds to the word in the government text passage. 6. Positive ads stress the candidate’s qualifications, family, and issue positions with no direct reference to the opponent. These are usually favored by the incumbent candidate. Incumbent means _________.    cause   current   criticize   favoritism   kind   cruel
		7. In 1996 Steve Forbes made extensive use of negative adds prior to the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary, spending millions denouncing then front-runner Bob Dole. Denounce means ____________.     cause   current   criticize   favoritism   kind   cruel
		8. These attacks prompted Dole to tag Forbes “the king of negative advertising,” before unleashing some negative ads of his own. Prompt means __________.     cause   current   criticize   favoritism   kind   cruel
		9. These ads contributed to the generally held belief that the early stages of the 1996 Republican nomination battle was one of the most vicious ever witnessed. Vicious means ________________.     cause   current   criticize   favoritism   kind   cruel
		10. Contrast ads compare the records and proposals of the candidates with a bias toward the sponsor. Bias means __________.    cause   current   criticize   favoritism   kind   cruel