RDAU_2026-ISSUE0809_DIGITAL MAGAZINE

XUBINGRUO/GETTY IMAGES Truly, Madly, Deeply A lot of great writers hate adverbs, especially ones ending in ly . “The road to hell is paved with adverbs,” Stephen King once said. Mark Twain, Toni Morrison and Elmore Leonard alsoweren’t fans. Although too many adverbs clutter prose, they can be effective, as the famously terse Ernest Hemingway shows in The Sun Also Rises : “How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked. “Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually and then suddenly.” 1. cogently (C) convincingly Students in debate club learn to argue cogently and respectfully. 2. gratis (A) free of charge “When you dine here on your birthday, we offer dessert gratis,” the maître d’ said. 3. discreetly (B) avoiding notice As the meeting dragged on, Siobhan discreetly checked her watch. 4. alfresco (C) outdoors What a beautiful day— shall we dine alfresco? 5. ostensibly (A) supposedly Though the book is ostensibly fiction, it mirrors the author’s life. 6. plumb (C) in a vertical line Norm set each fence post plumb in the wet concrete. 7. askance (B) with distrust The villagers look askance at outsiders. 8. blithely (A) cheerfully Tatum blithely ignored the rain as she began her hike. 9. in situ (C) in the original position Fossils preserved in situ offer insight into how the animals died. 10. pell-mell (B) wildly My dogs jump around pell-mell when they hear the word treat . 11. eminently (A) highly The eminently quotable Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot by watching.” 12. asunder (C) apart The tornado tore the old oak tree asunder. 13. hitherto (B) until now The biologist was thrilled to have found a hitherto unknown slug species, not least because she then got to name it. 14. duly (B) appropriately “Your objection has been duly noted, Counselor!” Judge Cruz barked. 15. prolifically (C) plentifully Karli posts prolifically on Instagram, sharing every detail of her life. Vocabulary Ratings 9 & below: passably 10-12: amply 13-15: splendidly Word Power ANSWERS reader ’ s digest 144   August/september 2026 Keep moving forward, with care that moves with you. At Australian Unity, we offer progressive, home health and care services designed to help you embrace active ageing and navigate life’s ups and downs. Whether you need support to recover at home, assistance with daily living, or a preventative health program, we’re here to ensure you keep moving forward. Our goal is to help you strengthen your independence and live comfortably, with purpose—right where you belong: at home. 2024 H o m e C a r e N S W / A C T e C T H o m e C a r e V I C / T A S 2023 ★ ★ ★ 2 0 2 4 • V o t e d b y A u s t r a l i a n s • 2 0 2 4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 4 ★ ★ ★ H o m e C a r e S e r v i c e s V i c / T a s 2024 H o m e C a r e V I C / T A S 2025 H o m e C a r e V I C / T A S a r e T Australian Unity Home Care Home Health and Care 1300 318 837 2026 H o m e C a r e V I C / T A SS