Another to keep track of whose turn it was to deal)

He always gives me a straight answer and never tries to pass the buck.

N EW W ORDS

Elicit

i lis´ it

Pernicious

pər nish´ əs

Tolerate

tol´ ər āt

Construe

kən strü´

Impunity

im pyū´ nə tē

W EEK 5 D AY 4

OUR PYRRHIC VICTORY*

Mr. Dorsey summoned a representative group of teachers and student leaders to his office in

order to elicit their reactions to the suspension of the football captain. He told them that

cheating was a pernicious disease that could not be tolerated at our school. He loathed*

having to discipline Art Krause so severely, but unless strict measures were taken, the student

body would construe the incident as an open invitation to cheat with impunity. “We may lose a

football game,” the principal said, “but we can salvage our self-respect.”

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. The border guards allowed the doctor to cross the frontier with ________________.

2. It isn’t easy to ________________ answers from a sleepy class on Monday morning.

3. Dentists appreciate patients who can ________________ pain.

4. She hoped that we would not ________________ her decision to run for office as a

thirst for power.

5. The dictator ’s ________________ rules failed to intimidate* the leaders of the

underground.

Definitions Match the new word with their meanings.

6. elicit a. freedom from punishment

7. pernicious b. to make a deduction, to infer

8. tolerate c. to put up with, to bear

9. construe d. to draw forth

10. impunity e. harmful, causing injury

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to lionize a person —to make a big fuss over someone

(the lions at the Tower of London were considered its main attraction)

When the famous poet Dylan Thomas visited the United States, he was lionized wherever

he lectured.

W EEK 5 D AY 5

REVIEW

Congratulations! You have covered the first one hundred words in the book. With the same

diligence you should be able to tackle the remaining work and to master most of the

challenging words.

Take the following quiz by matching the best possible definition with the word you have

studied. *Reminder: Record answers on a sheet of paper.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS

1. acrimonious a. double-dealing

2. admonish b. cannot be moved by persuasion, inflexible

3. clandestine c. silly

4. concur d. flourishing

5. construe e. to scold, warn

6. culprit f. harassed

7. distraught g. to permit, to put up with

8. duplicity h. extract

9. duress i. damaging, harmful

10. egregious j. outstanding for undesirable quality

11. elicit k. notorious

12. ethics l. force, coercion

13. flagrant m. exemption

14. impunity n. moral philosophy

15. inane o. agree

16. inexorable p. hidden, secret

17. paucity q. to interpret

18. pernicious r. one who commits a crime

19. rampant s. shortage

20. tolerate t. caustic, bitter

IDIOMS

21. stock in trade u. to idolize

22. to take down a peg v. to humiliate

23. pass the buck w. the necessary equipment

24. to lionize a person x. to refuse to take responsibility

Make a record of those words you missed. You can learn them successfully by studying them

and by using them in original sentences. Use a word three times and it is yours forever, a wise

man once said.

*For reference only

WORDS FOR

FURTHER STUDY MEANINGS

1. _________________________ _________________________

2. _________________________ _________________________

3. _________________________ _________________________

WORDSEARCH 5

Using the clues listed below, record separately using one of the new words you learned this

week for each blank in the following story.

Clues

1st Day

4th Day

3rd Day

2nd Day

2nd Day

Driving While Drunk

Throughout literature we find recurring tales of forthright people who are outspoken in

condemning illegal practices only to be brought low themselves when they, or members of

their families, commit such acts. Since literature reflects life, we can expect to find similar

instances in which a person’s are compromised, and he falls prey to the

evil that he had publicly denounced.

Take the story of Barry Vernon (not his real name), an aggressive Ohio district attorney.

Vernon could be counted upon to make remarks about anyone who was driving

while intoxicated. On numerous speaking engagements, he railed against drunkenness and

swore that any such who was found behind the wheel of a car would be prosecuted to

the full extent of the law.

As fate would have it, Vernon’s own son smashed into several cars, injuring four people

seriously, and then failed a sobriety test.

Following that violation of the law, Vernon resigned from office, saying that as a

private citizen he would continue his crusade against those who drive under the influence of

alcohol. Meanwhile, he wished to spend more time with his son to try to understand the young

man’s behavior.

N EW W ORDS

Affluent

af´ lü ənt

Feasible

fē´ zə bəl

Discern

də zėrn´ or də sėrn´

Sally

sal´ ē

Consternation

kon´ stər nā´ shən

W EEK 6 D AY 1

THE NEWSPAPER UMBRELLA

Our neighbor is an affluent inventor whose latest brainstorm, a feasible umbrella substitute,

has been featured in many magazines. As simply as the eye can discern, it is a hard plastic

strip, about the size of a ruler, which fits comfortably into a woman’s handbag or a man’s suit

jacket. If a person is caught in a sudden rainstorm, he swings the plastic open in the shape of a

cross. Attached to each arm is a clip-like device. Next, he takes the newspaper he is carrying

and slides it under each of the four clips. Now, equipped with a rigid head covering he can

sally forth to face the elements. To the consternation of the umbrella manufacturers, it has

been enjoying a brisk sale, especially among commuters. If it continues to do well, it could

have a pernicious* effect upon the umbrella industry.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. Some prisoners planned a disturbance while others would ________________ toward

the gate.

2. Under duress* from the tax officer, the beggar admitted that he was truly

________________.

3. To the ________________ of the sergeant, there was a paucity* of volunteers for the

dangerous mission.

4. It’s ________________ to build an electric auto, but wouldn’t you need a terribly long

extension cord?

5. When we could ________________ the city lights, we knew we were safe at last.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. affluent a. suddenly rush forth

7. feasible b. possible

8. discern c. dismay

9. sally (v.) d. rich

10. consternation e. perceive*

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

I’m from Missouri —a skeptic, one who is not easily convinced

You might swallow his promises, but I’m from Missouri.

N EW W ORDS

Precocious

pri kō´ shəs

Perfunctory

pər fungk´ tər ē

Chagrin

shə grin´

Perverse

pər vers´

Deride

di rīd´

W EEK 6 D AY 2

PATENT PENDING

My buddy Verne, a precocious automotive wizard, and I were inspired to do some inventing

on our own. We thought it might be feasible* to park a car parallel to a space on the street.

Then, by pressing a button, we could raise the four tires off the ground slightly, while

dropping two special wheels perpendicular to the curb. It would then be child’s play to roll

into the narrowest of parking spaces. We took the idea to Ed Greene who runs the Ford

agency in order to elicit* his reaction. After a perfunctory glance at our plans, to our chagrin

Ed snorted that our idea was inane,* but we decided that he was just jealous of our brilliance.

Tomorrow we are going to start on a computer that will enable us to measure the intelligence

of perverse automobile dealers who like to deride the efforts of junior geniuses.

Sample Sentences Use the clues above to help find the proper words.

1. The children in Shakespeare’s plays are so ________________ that they all sound like

grandparents.

2. Edith gave only ________________ attention to the new millennium, skipping our New

Year ’s Eve party.

3. The Wright brothers didn’t become distraught* when a skeptic would

________________ their work.

4. When I correct my kid brother ’s math errors, he is ________________ enough to insist

that he is right.

5. To the ________________ of many taxpayers, some citizens seem to cheat the

government with impunity.*

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. precocious a. done without care, superficial

7. perfunctory b. reaching maturity early

8. chagrin c. feeling of disappointment, humiliation

9. perverse d. contrary, persisting in error

10. deride e. to ridicule, scoff* at

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

red-letter day —day of happiness, time for rejoicing

(holidays are red-letter days on our calendars)

My red-letter day came when I was chosen as senior class president.

N EW W ORDS

Disparage

dis par´ ij

Laudable

lôd´ ə bəl

Fiasco

fē as´ kō

Masticate

mas´ tə kāt

Eschew

es chü´

W EEK 6 D AY 3

HOLD THAT NOBEL PRIZE!

Speaking of inventions and discoveries, I just learned that an eminent* scientist in Ohio has

developed a pill that contains all the nutritive value of three complete meals. In addition to

providing us with the vitamins and minerals we need daily, this pill also gives a feeling of

fullness. According to its sponsors, the pill will nourish and satisfy. I hate to disparage such a

laudable achievement, but to me it seems like a most objectionable discovery. Rather than a

scientific triumph, I’d be inclined to label it as an egregious* blunder, a scientific disaster, a

laboratory fiasco. Is there anyone in his right mind who thinks that a pill can replace the

pleasures of devouring hot corn bread, masticating on a thick steak, biting into crisp french

fries, or attacking a chocolate sundae? I’m afraid that this is one pill I’ll have to eschew from

chewing.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. The paradox* is that Javert’s inexorable* pursuit of Jean Valjean was both

________________ and despicable.

2. The affluent* storeowner ________________ the efforts of his small competitor,

saying that he could always tolerate* that kind of rivalry.

3. To aid in digestion, you must ________________ each piece of meat one dozen times.

4. In an acrimonious* letter, her father described the project as a complete

________________.

5. Once he sought the limelight, but now he ________________ all interviews.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. disparage a. to discredit, belittle*

7. laudable b. avoid

8. fiasco c. to chew up

9. masticate d. praiseworthy

10. eschew e. complete failure

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to let sleeping dogs lie —to let well enough alone, to avoid stirring up old hostilities

The lawyer wanted to open up the old case, but his partner advised him to let sleeping

dogs lie.

N EW W ORDS

Quell

kwel

Voluble

vol´ ū bəl

Confidant(e)

kon´ fə dant´

Obsolescence

ob´ sə les´ ns

Dubious

dü´ bē əs

W EEK 6 D AY 4

PERFECT PRODUCTS

I guess we’ll never be able to quell those persistent rumors about the invention of auto tires

that will never wear out, stockings that cannot tear, and pens that won’t run dry. A voluble

economist informed me that such products will never be marketed. “Can you imagine,” he

asked, “a manufacturer cutting his own throat? Why would he sell you an item that you will

never have to replace? No,” my confidant whispered, “it’s part of their scheme of planned

obsolescence to sell you merchandise with a limited life span in order to keep you coming

back for more.” I am dubious about the existence of those perfect products, but then I’m from

Missouri.*

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the proper blanks.

1. When the duplicity* was revealed, the jury became ________________ about Ed’s

innocence.

2. In order to ________________ the riot, the police sallied* forth with tear gas.

3. A teenage boy’s father should be his true ________________.

4. The ________________ built into many products could be regarded as a flagrant*

insult toward the duped* consumer.

5. I could not doze in the chair because of the ________________ barber.

Definitions Play the familiar matching game.

6. quell a. one to whom you confide your secrets

7. voluble b. talkative

8. confidant(e) c. process of wearing out

9. obsolescence d. put an end to

10. dubious e. doubtful

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

thumb’s down —signal of rejection (Roman emperors could condemn a gladiator who