This Century’s Deadliest Disease

When the American public started to hear about the AIDS virus in the 1980s, there was a

measure of concern but no real alarm. After all, some said, it was a problem solely for a

small group of intravenous drug users who shared dirty needles, and for the homosexual

community.

But as the numbers of afflicted people grew during the 1980s and 1990s, we began to

the tragic news stories more closely. The deaths of young people like Ryan White

and Kimberly Bergalis, not members of the at-risk groups referred to above, convinced us

that what was at first regarded merely as a illness was actually a threat to

the general community.

In the mid-1980s, medical researchers were optimistic that a vaccine for AIDS

would be found in short order. Those predictions proved to be inaccurate. In October 1992,

former Surgeon-General C. Everett Koop said that he doubted we would ever find a cure for

the disease. With over 200,000 Americans already having succumbed to the killer,

and another 300,000 who were HIV-positive and could contract a full-blown form of AIDS,

Koop’s statement sent chills throughout the country.

A prominent AIDS expert, however, took issue with Koop. “The fight will be difficult,” said

Dr. Harley Smith, “but we will find an answer very shortly.” Now, in the twenty-first century,

the answer is apparently at hand.

N EW W ORDS

Inclement

in klem´ ənt

Peruse

pə rüz´

Premonition

prē´ mə nish´ ən

Desist

di zist´

Recoil

ri koil´

W EEK 10 D AY 1

JERRY HART’S SIXTH SENSE

An uneasy feeling had made Jerry Hart miserable all day long. It was difficult to explain, but

the similar sensations in the past had been accurate—trouble was on the way. Just as some

people can predict the onset of inclement weather because of an aching in their bones, so

could Jerry detect incipient* disaster. He sat at his desk, trying to peruse a company report but

his efforts were ineffectual.* The gnawing at his insides, the tinge* of uneasiness, the

premonition of calamity that besieged* him would not desist. When the phone rang, he

recoiled with fear—it was his wife and she was hysterical. Their son had been bitten by a mad

dog!

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. After being admonished* by his father, he began to ________________ the want ads

daily.

2. When the black cat crossed her path, Ellen had a ________________ of disaster.

3. The pickets promulgated* a warning that they would not ________________ in their

efforts to enhance* their standard of living.

4. As the snake prepared to strike, the girls ________________ in horror.

5. She blamed her absence from the game on the ________________ weather, but we

knew that was sour grapes.*

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. inclement a. unfavorable, stormy

7. peruse b. to read carefully

8. premonition c. cease

9. desist d. forewarning

10. recoil e. draw back

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to pay the piper —to bear the consequences

(from the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin)

The cruel leader was doing well at the present time, but he knew that one day he might

have to pay the piper.

N EW W ORDS

Pertinent

pėrt´ n ənt

Mastiff

mas´ tif

Obsess

əb ses´

Doleful

dōl´ fəl

Wan

won

W EEK 10 D AY 2

CRISIS!

As soon as Jerry Hart could get the pertinent facts from his wife, he dashed out of the office

on his way home. He jostled* people in the hallway, implored* the elevator operator to hurry,

and with flagrant* disregard for an elderly gentleman jumped into the cab he had hailed. The

twenty-minute taxi ride seemed interminable* and all the while horrible thoughts occurred to

Jerry. Visions of an ugly mastiff with foaming jaws obsessed him. A crowd of people had

gathered in front of his house so that Jerry had to force his way through them. Little Bobby

was on his bed, surrounded by a doctor, a policeman, Jerry’s doleful wife, his two daughters,

and a half-dozen wan neighbors.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. The stockbroker was ________________ with the idea of becoming a painter.

2. My nervous neighbor bought a pugnacious* ________________ to frighten burglars.

3. ________________ expressions abounded* throughout headquarters on the night of the

election.

4. During the trial the astute* lawyer was able to elicit* the ________________

information from the key witness.

5. After the tension, his normally ruddy face was ________________ and tired.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. pertinent a. sad, melancholy

7. mastiff b. to the point

8. obsess c. sickly pale

9. doleful d. to haunt, preoccupy

10. wan e. large dog

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

on the carpet —being scolded

Because of her repeated lateness, Betty’s boss called her on the carpet.

N EW W ORDS

Histrionics

his´ trē on´ iks

Elusive

i lü´ siv

Frustrate

frus´ trāt

Symptomatic

simp´ tə mat´ ik

Interject

in´ tər

W EEK 10 D AY 3

A TIME FOR DECISION

The doctor explained the situation calmly, avoiding histrionics. First of all, they didn’t know

whether the dog had rabies. Secondly, the elusive dog had frustrated all attempts to find him

so far. Finally, the decision would have to be made whether Bobby was to undergo the painful

vaccination administered daily for two weeks. Mrs. Hart said that a neighbor who had seen the

dog claimed that it had been foaming at the mouth, barking, and growling constantly—all

symptomatic of rabies. But the policeman interjected that there hadn’t been a case of a mad

dog in the county in over twenty years; he repudiated* the neighbor ’s report, advocating* that

they do nothing for at least another day. Mr. and Mrs. Hart sat down to think about their next

step.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. The warden ________________ the prisoners’ attempt to escape by adding more

guards.

2. Most viewers hate it when a commercial is ________________ into a suspense drama.

3. Saying that he would not tolerate* her ________________, the director fired the

temperamental actress.

4. All his life he found happiness ________________, but wealth easy to come by.

5. The sordid* rioting was ________________ of the problems facing the large cities.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. histrionics a. having to do with signs or symptoms, indicative

7. elusive b. hard to grasp

8. frustrate c. insert, interrupt

9. symptomatic d. display of emotions

10. interject e. counteract, foil, thwart*

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to show one’s hand —to reveal one’s intentions

When someone joined in bidding for the antique, the dealer was forced to show his hand.

N EW W ORDS

Inert

in ėrt´

Salient

sā´ lē ənt

Imminent

im´ ə nənt

Squeamish

skwē´ mish

Engrossed

en grōst´

W EEK 10 D AY 4

THE PERTINENT* FACTS ABOUT RABIES

“Give me some of the rudimentary* information about the disease, Doc,” said Jerry, glancing

toward the inert figure of his son. “Well, as you know, the malady* used to be called

‘hydrophobia’ (fear of water) because one of the symptoms is an inability to swallow liquids.

Actually, it is caused by a live virus from the saliva of an infected animal. If saliva gets into a

bite wound, the victim may get rabies. The virus travels along the nerves to the spine and

brain. Once the salient characteristics appear (ten days to six months) then death is imminent. ”

“What are the symptoms?” asked Mrs. Hart. “Pain and numbness, difficulty in swallowing,

headaches and nervousness. Also, muscle spasms and convulsions.” The squeamish neighbors

who were engrossed in the doctor ’s remarks gasped. “I think we should go ahead with the

injections,” the distraught* Mrs. Hart said. “I’ve heard enough.”

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. The senator loathed* it when people said that an atomic war was ________________.

2. When his ________________ partner complained about a lack of ethics,* the

businessman laughed at his innocence.

3. ________________ in his crossword puzzle, he failed to notice the paucity* of

customers in the restaurant.

4. One of the ________________ features of her poetry is a dependence upon

euphemisms.*

5. Seeing the ________________ player, the manager dashed out onto the field.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. inert a. outstanding, prominent

7. salient b. without power to move

8. imminent c. likely to happen, threatening

9. squeamish d. absorbed

10. engrossed e. easily shocked, over sensitive

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to tilt at windmills —to fight imaginary enemies (from Don Quixote)

The vice president told the committee, “We’re really on your side, and if you fight us

you’ll be tilting at windmills. ”

W EEK 10 D AY 5

REVIEW

At the end of this week’s study, you will have covered 200 words and 40 idioms. In addition,

you will have seen many of those words used several times in subsequent lessons. If you have

been operating at only 75% efficiency, you have, nevertheless, added substantially to your

arsenal of words.

Here’s a thought: wouldn’t it be wonderful if through genuine attention to the daily dosage

you could move up to 80%—or even 90%? Start by matching the 20 words with their

meanings. *Reminder: Record answers on a sheet of paper. Did somebody say 100%?

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS

1. desist a. sad

2. doleful b. draw back

3. elusive c. foil

4. engrossed d. cease

5. frustrate e. interrupt

6. histrionics f. stormy, harsh

7. imminent g. indicative

8. inclement h. appropriate

9. inert i. powerless to move

10. interject j. large dog

11. mastiff k. outstanding

12. obsess l. read carefully

13. pertinent m. preoccupy

14. peruse n. easily shocked

15. premonition o. forewarning

16. recoil p. about to happen

17. salient q. hard to grasp

18. squeamish r. pale

19. symptomatic s. absorbed

20. wan t. display of emotions

IDIOMS

21. to pay the piper u. to reveal one’s emotions

22. on the carpet v. being scolded

23. to show one’s hand w. fight imaginary enemies

24. to tilt at windmills x. to bear the consequences

Make a record of those words you missed.

*For reference only

WORDS FOR

FURTHER STUDY MEANINGS

1. _________________________ _________________________

2. _________________________ _________________________

3. _________________________ _________________________

WORDSEARCH 10

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

4th Day

1st Day

4th Day

1st Day

3rd Day