Let’s clear up another common misnomer here: the word “cynical” should not be confused with “skeptical.” Many online dictionaries have them as synonyms for one another, but to be cynical means that you are suspicious of other people’s motives. You have no need to be cynical here, for we are trying to improve your word power!

Dr. Seuss’s book ‘Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories’ nearly didn’t get published! Although it indirectly dealt with the politics of fascism this wasn’t the reason it was nearly banned. Publishers weren’t happy about the use of the word ‘burp’ – which, believe it or not, was considered very rude in 1958!

The Wicked Witch of the West, Margaret Hamilton, had a great sense of humor. She once requested that newspapers write “Ding, dong, the witch is dead!” above her obituary when she died. She died in 1985 and some newspapers really did follow her command!