The ultimate weapon takes shape

Enrico Fermi designed a device that could eventuate in a chain reaction. It consisted of layers

of graphite, alternated with chunks of uranium. The uranium emitted neutrons, and the

graphite slowed them down. Holes were left for long cadmium safety rods. By withdrawing

those control rods Fermi could speed up the production of neutrons, thus increasing the

number of uranium atoms that would be split (fission). When the rods were withdrawn to a

critical point, then the neutrons would be produced so fast that the graphite and cadmium

could not absorb them. In that manner a chain reaction would result. Slowly, Fermi’s first

atomic pile began to grow in a subterranean room at Columbia University. The big question

remained—was it viable?

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. A thorough investigation ________________ in a comprehensive* report.

2. After two years of confinement in a ________________ dungeon, the prisoner was thin

and wan.*

3. The mayor issued a diatribe* against companies whose smokestacks

________________ poisonous fumes.

4. Gaining better housing for all was the ________________ goal of the zealous*

reformer.

5. When the schism* in the company was healed, a ________________ arrangement was

worked out.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. ultimate a. underground

7. eventuate b. final

8. emit c. practicable, workable

9. subterranean d. to give off

10. viable e. to result finally

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

the lion’s share —the major portion

Because the salesman was essential to the business, he demanded the lion’s share of the

profits.

N EW W ORDS

Premise

prem´ is

Jeopardize

jep´ ər dīz

Incredulous

in krej´ ə ləs

Permeate

pėr´ mē āt

Propitious

prə pish´

W EEK 13 D AY 3

THE SQUASH COURT EXPERIMENT

As the pile grew, so did the entire project. Fermi moved his materials to an abandoned squash

court under a football stadium at the University of Chicago. His pace accelerated because they

were proceeding on the premise that the Germans were close to atomic success. Six weeks

after the pile had been started, its critical size was reached. Three brave young men

jeopardized their lives by ascending* the pile, ready to cover it with liquid cadmium if

anything went wrong. Almost fifty scientists and several incredulous observers mounted a

balcony to watch. One physicist remained on the floor; it was his job to extract the final

cadmium control rod. Unbearable tension permeated the atmosphere. Fermi completed his

calculations, waited for a propitious moment, and then gave the signal.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. Acting on the ________________ that there were no burglars around, the police

became quite lax.*

2. After I had perused* the Yankee lineup, I was ________________ about their chances

of winning.

3. The trapeze artist was squeamish* about having to ________________ his life.

4. A terrible odor that was impossible to expunge* ________________ the skunk

handler ’s clothing.

5. At a ________________ moment the flamboyant* movie star made her grand entrance.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. premise a. favorable

7. jeopardize b. endanger

8. incredulous c. to spread through

9. permeate d. skeptical

10. propitious e. grounds for a conclusion

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

out of the frying pan into the fire —to go from a difficult situation to a worse one

I thought I had escaped, but actually I went out of the frying pan into the fire.

N EW W ORDS

Surmise

sər mīz´

Curtail

kėr tāl´

Repress

ri pres´

Cryptic

krip´ tik

Inchoate

in kō´ it

W EEK 13 D AY 4

THE ITALIAN NAVIGATOR LANDS

The chain reaction took place precisely as Enrico Fermi had surmised. After twenty-eight

minutes he curtailed the experiment, giving the signal to replace the control rod. The

normally reserved scientists, unable to repress their excitement, let out a tremendous cheer

and gathered around Fermi to shake his hand. Although it was time to celebrate, some of the

men remarked soberly that “the world would never be the same again.” On December 2, 1942,

the news of Fermi’s achievement was relayed in a cryptic telephone message:

“The Italian Navigator has reached the New World.”

“And how did he find the natives?”

“Very friendly.”

The Atomic Age was inchoate —but truly here!

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. Publication of the lurid* magazine was ________________ by the district attorney.

2. Although his remarks appeared ________________ at first, we began to see how really

pertinent* they were.

3. I had to ________________ my desire to interject* my criticism during the debate.

4. Edna had ________________ that she would be charged a nominal* sum and so she

was outraged when she got the bill.

5. The young couple was disappointed to see the ________________ state of their new

house.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. surmise a. puzzling

7. curtail b. guess

8. repress c. to put down

9. cryptic d. to cut short

10. inchoate e. in an early stage

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to keep the pot boiling —to see that interest doesn’t die down

Dickens kept the pot boiling by ending each chapter on a note of uncertainty and

suspense.

W EEK 13 D AY 5

REVIEW

No matter what the theme, no matter what the source, we can expect that important concepts

will require a mature vocabulary. This week’s topic, scientific and biographical in nature,

serves as a vehicle for teaching you twenty worthwhile words. You now have the chance to see

whether you remember their definitions. *Reminder: Record answers on a sheet of paper.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS

1. cryptic a. ask urgently

2. curtail b. undeniable

3. emit c. guess

4. eventuate d. accomplished by secret

5. haven e. to put down

6. importune f. favorable

7. inchoate g. cut short

8. incontrovertible h. workable

9. incredulous i. underground

10. jeopardize j. final

11. permeate k. to result finally

12. premise l. to spread through

13. propitious m. conquer

14. repress n. place of safety

15. subjugate o. endanger

16. subterranean p. a proposition for argument

17. surmise q. skeptical

18. surreptitious r. in an early stage

19. ultimate s. puzzling

20. viable t. to give off

IDIOMS

21. take the bull by the horns u. to maintain interest

22. the lion’s share v. from bad to worse

23. out of the frying pan into the fire w. the major portion

x. to face a problem directly

24. keep the pot boiling

Make a record of those words you missed.

*For reference only

WORDS FOR

FURTHER STUDY MEANINGS

1. _________________________ _________________________

2. _________________________ _________________________

3. _________________________ _________________________

WORDSEARCH 13

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

2nd Day

2nd Day

3rd Day

Drug Smugglers Beware

The message came to Officer Matt Jagusak: “Drug search tomorrow—bring pig.”

Jagusak, with the Union County New Jersey Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Unit,

had to his superiors to put Ferris E. Lucas, a super sniffer, to work. Lucas is a

Vietnamese pot-bellied pig with a fantastic olfactory sense that is one million times greater

than a human’s and could be our weapon in breaking up the drug trade.

A canine trainer offered the pig to Union City, suggesting that its intelligence and unique skill

will make Lucas a fighter against illegal narcotics. Jagusak has already taught his

55-pound porker-detective how to find cocaine, hashish, and marijuana. While some law

enforcement officials were at first, they quickly became believers when they saw the

Sherlock Holmes of the sty locate underground drug scents that had eluded trained dogs.

“I don’t care if it’s a dog, a pig, or an elephant,” Jagusak’s boss said. “If it benefits the

department and our community, we’ll try it.”

N EW W ORDS

Aspire

ə spīr´

Inveigh

in vā´

Nettle

net´ l

Overt

ō´ vėrt

Relegate

rel´ ə gāt

W EEK 14 D AY 1