Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Teen Talk Barbie, the best-selling $50 model, has gone a step too far in the opinion of the

American Association of University Women. Representatives of that group were to

hear that one of the four phrases that the doll is programmed to utter is, “Math class is tough.”

For years the university professors, as well as members of feminist organizations, have

against the that portrays girls as weak math and science students. “Because

that brainwashing message is conveyed to girls at an early age, they come to accept what we

consider to be a blatant,” said Dr. Ellen Kaner, a Dallas chemist. “We are just

beginning to make progress in our campaign to recruit women for challenging, well-paying

careers in math and science,” she added, “and were shocked to learn that Barbie is spreading

such harmful nonsense.”

Executives of the company that manufactures Teen Talk Barbie had to to set matters

right. They admitted that the phrase in question, one of 270 selected by computer chips, was a

mistake. In a press release, their president said, “We didn’t fully consider the potentially

negative implications of this phrase. Not only will we remove it immediately but will swap

with anyone who bought the offending doll.”

We wonder how Ken feels about the matter.

N EW W ORDS

Complicity

kəm plis´ ə tē

Liquidation

lik´ wə dā´ shən

Accomplice

ə kom´ plis

Recant

ri kant´

Culpable

kul´ pə bəl

W EEK 15 D AY 1

DANNY ESCOBEDO GOES TO JAIL

In 1960, a young Chicagoan, Danny Escobedo, was given a 20-year jail sentence for firstdegree

murder. Danny had confessed to complicity in the killing of his brother-in-law after

the police had refused to allow him to see his lawyer. Actually, Danny was tricked into

blaming a friend for the liquidation of his sister ’s husband, thereby establishing himself as an

accomplice. Despite the fact that Danny later recanted his confession, he was found culpable

and jailed. Danny had been stereotyped* as a hoodlum and nobody raised an eyebrow over the

hapless* felon’s* troubles.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. Proceeding on the premise* that the broker was guilty of ________________ in the

swindle, the detective followed him surreptitiously.*

2. After the ________________ of the gang leader, a mammoth* conflict arose among his

ambitious lieutenants who aspired* to be boss.

3. Once the incontrovertible* evidence was offered, the servant was held

________________ in the theft of the jewels.

4. When the clergyman refused to ________________, his superiors were so nettled* that

they relegated* him to an isolated parish in Alaska.

5. Although he was judged as a minor ________________, the driver had actually played

an integral* part in planning the crime.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings. Two of the words are very close in

meaning.

6. complicity a. deserving blame

7. liquidation b. partnership in wrongdoing

8. accomplice c. an associate in crime

9. recant d. disposal of, killing

10. culpable e. withdraw previous statements

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

woolgathering —absentmindedness or daydreaming

When the young genius should have been doing his homework, he was frequently

engaged in woolgathering.

N EW W ORDS

Abrogate

ab´ rə gāt

Alleged

ə lejd´

Access

ak´ ses

Invalidate

în val´ ə dāt

Preclude

pri klüd´

W EEK 15 D AY 2

ESCOBEDO’S LAWYER APPEALS

Barry Kroll, a Chicago lawyer, took an interest in Danny Escobedo’s case. Kroll felt that his

client’s rights under the Constitution had been abrogated. Since the alleged accomplice,*

Escobedo, had been denied access to an attorney, Kroll asked the courts to invalidate the

conviction. He proposed that lawyers be entitled to sit in when the police question a suspect

but the Illinois courts rejected that on the grounds that it would effectively preclude all

questioning by legal authorities. If such a law were upheld, the police felt that it would play

havoc* with all criminal investigations.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. The manager was distraught* when he realized that the slugger ’s sickness would

________________ a World Series victory.

2. It is symptomatic* of some newspapers that an ________________ criminal is

regarded in print as guilty.

3. The wealthy uncle decided to ________________ his inane* nephew’s sinecure.*

4. The general was sure to ________________ the court-martial’s decision once he

learned of the flagrant* bias* of the presiding officer.

5. Once the druggist had been duped* into opening the store, the addict gained

________________ to the pep pills.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. abrogate a. admittance

7. alleged b. reported, supposed

8. access c. to deprive of legal force, to nullify

9. invalidate d. prevent

10. preclude e. abolish

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to whitewash —to conceal defects,