Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Alphabe-Thursday - The Letter X



It's time again for Alphabe-Thursday sponsored by our teacher Mrs. Jenny Matlock over at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent." Head over to Mrs. Matlock's blog for a list of this week's students.

We've been brain dead this week. We put our heads together for this one and studied all week. The kids even studied during lunch with their XYZ books.


We'd hate to flunk, so we had to come up with something.

How about a handy list of Scrabble words with the letter X? Personally, I hate getting the letter X even if it is worth more points. I feel like I have to somehow get rid of the letter X as quickly as possible so I don't get stuck with it at the end of the game. Having the letter X is stressful. So here are some words containing the letter X that you can start memorizing before the next Scrabble game.

AXE
BOX
COX
DEX
FAX
FIX
FOX
GOX
HEX
KEX
LAX
LEX
LOX
LUX
MAX
MIX
NIX
OXO
OXY
PAX
PIX
POX
PYX
RAX
REX
SAX
SEX
SIX
SOX
TAX
TUX
VEX
VOX
WAX
XIS
ZAX

(Note: Spell Check had a problem with some of the above words, but I found them all on Hasbros website.)

We also found some interesting X words in the Dictionary. It's fun broadening our vocabularies.

Here's a little test. See if you know the definitions for the following words:

1. XANTHOPHYLL

2. XYLOTOMY

3. XENOPHOBIA

The answers will appear at the bottom of this post.

(Note: Spell Check had a problem with a couple of these words too, but I found them in the New World Dictionary Of The American Language, Second College Edition.)

Then there's the x-ray. In doing some research I learned that it was discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen in 1895. You can read the complete history here. What really surprised me was how long X-rays have been around. They certainly play an important diagnostic role in medicine.

I've shown one of my son's X-rays before, but since we're studying the letter X and X-rays this week I'll show it again along with another one. These X-rays were the first ones taken on October 13, 2009. He was eventually diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, but thanks to Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen within minutes we knew he had more than just bronchitis and a back ache.



And this is a normal chest X-ray that I found online.



Don't forget they're using X-ray technology for the "virtual strip searches" at certain airports. They now can see more than we would probably like them to see. There's a picture and article here. It's a controversial subject.

I found the cutest bag to take on the plane. The X-ray Tote has X-ray images of what you might be carrying in your bag. Click here to take a look.

Now for the answers:

1. XANTHOPHYLL-n. a yellow crystalline pigment found in plants

2. XYLOTOMY-n. the preparations of sections of wood for microscopic inspection

3. XENOPHOBIA-n. fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners


How did you do? I knew you'd pass my little test. Mrs. Matlock will be so proud. Congratulations!

27 comments:

  1. Great post and I'm glad the Ginny's are studying hard with their book.

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  2. Betty, I really enjoyed seeing the Ginny dolls again. They must really have been studying hard for all of those "X" words.
    Reid's x-rays really helped the doctor's make an accurate diagnosis, and I'm glad that his treatments are over for now.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  3. I always like getting caught up on what your dolls are doing...they make me laugh. What an impressive array of x words that I don't know and can't spell! Joni

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  4. Xenophobes could find shelter in blogland. No one is as scary through the computer!

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  5. Great post on the letter X! I hope your son is responding well to his treatments.

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  6. I am a respiratory therapist by trade. I gasped out loud at your son's x-ray. Prayers going up that his treatment is working. God bless.

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  7. X-rays are pretty amazing, and we've been using basically the same technology for over 100 years, and it works wonderfully.
    I only got one of the words- xenophobia.

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  8. I love the list of X scrabble words - if only I could remember them when playing the actual game!

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  9. Very cute post. I HATE getting the x in scrabble, but now maybe I'll look forward to it. And what a cute lunch place the "kids" are studying in :) Very scary chest films, glad to hear that Reid has completed his last radiation treatment! I knew the first and last words - have no idea how I knew the first one lol. But the second was a stumper. Kat

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  10. very great x post - lots of words covered here :D

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  11. I am soooo never playing scrabble with anybody at your house...including the ones with even more air in their head than me!

    That X-ray was really sobering. I cannot imagine how you felt when you heard that news. All I can do is keep all of you on my prayer list as you continue this battle.

    I really look forward to your X-cellent posts each week on Alphabe-Thursday.

    You are such an X-stra special person!

    A+

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  12. Super post! I need to get my Scrabble game out...well done...hope your son is ok...Peace and blessings

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  13. Wow! Such a lot of information in one post! Thanks for sharing this with us.

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  14. Awww...Betty you are too smart for this class...well I am amongst a very bright group here. So glad to hear your son is doing well. I did not know the history on X-ray, but that guy was a genius how it has saved lives. Thanks Betty for stopping by.

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  15. Wow! I love this packed X post. Well done, you.

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  16. very educational x post...
    powerful x-rays!

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  17. You totally passed the test ... you get and X+! and i was so happy to see the dolls again, its been awhile!

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  18. i panic when i get x in scrabble too! love all the words you found...i might just use it as a cheat sheet for the next time i play

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  19. What a wonderful post, full of information too. I learned some new X words today.

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  20. All kinds of information in this one. X-rays are certainly a miracle. Love the three X words; only knew the last one.

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  21. Great post. The kids have worked hard. Thanks for the helpful scrabble words and the x-ray information. I hope Reid is doing well. I really like the x-ray bags. We travel so much and go through that whole procedure. The bags gave me a good laugh.

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  22. Scrabble is the best game!
    Adored here at the cottage, with a passion!!!

    LOL...My grandkids strive to get the x, the little bugs :)
    LOL

    A post with whimsy and informative too boot, you passed I see, and well deserved flying colors!

    I too was in the X class...
    Please drop in when you can for my X-Post
    ~Excursion of Xeranthemum~
    on my blog here:
    http://adivashammer.com/?p=1477

    Isn't Ms Jenny the best?
    So nice to meet you!

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  23. X-Rays are amazing technology - one of the true miracles of modern medicine. I pray your son's treatment is successful and he is soon back in perfect health.

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  24. You always post something fun! Glad to see the Jennys are keeping up with their summer reading! ~ Sarah

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  25. Yeah, the dolls are back. I hope your son is doing well. Great X post.

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  26. I found Xanax in my search. LOL. I totally want the bigger purse. It has a gun on it! LOL..It's great.

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  27. Wonderful Post and beautiful blog...love all the info, many blessings to you...bkm

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