Chimpanzees are surprisingly smart

Washoe, the chimpanzee, has more than a veneer of intelligence; she can signal her desire to

eat, go in or out, be covered, or brush her teeth. In addition, she can make signs for “I’m

sorry,” “I hurt,” “Hurry,” “Give me,” and a myriad of other terms that are familiar to young

children. This urbane animal can indicate that she craves more dessert by putting her fingers

together (“more”) and then placing her index and second fingers on top of her tongue

(“sweet”). It is irrelevant that Washoe cannot actually talk. What is important, however, is the

consummate* ease with which she has mastered her daily assignments.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. Why did Silas Marner ________________ wealth and practice cupidity*?

2. Once the hoax had been concocted*, a ________________ of problems arose.

3. The defendant was alleged* to have been an army deserter, but the judge said that was

________________ to the case.

4. By embellishing* her work with ________________ humor, the sophisticated

playwright succeeded on Broadway.

5. The lieutenant confessed to a ________________ of ignorance in order to properly

evaluate* his corporal’s resourcefulness.*

Definitions Take the bull by the horns* and match the new words with their meanings.

6. veneer a. to desire

7. myriad b. countless number

8. urbane c. polished, witty

9. crave d. thin covering

10. irrelevant e. not related to the subject

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to be at large —not confined or in jail

Since the dangerous criminal was at large, all the townspeople began to buy dogs for

protection.

N EW W ORDS

Deem

dēm

Inherent

in hir´ ənt

Buff

buf

Romp

romp

Latent

lāt´ nt

W EEK 18 D AY 3

EASY TO TRAIN

The chimpanzees are deemed by scientists to be the closest to man of all the living apes;

consequently, they are fairly easy to train. Several years ago, two married researchers

embarked on an interesting project: they reared and trained a chimp in almost the same

manner as they would have raised a child. The animal did beautifully, convincing the couple

of the inherent ability of the chimpanzee. Cinema buffs who have seen Tarzan’s clever

monkey romp through the jungle also recognize the latent intelligence of those animals.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. Whom do you ________________ to be the bulwark* of the Republican party?

2. The firemen did not have to cajole* the enthusiastic ________________ into helping

them extinguish the blaze.

3. When the intercity competition began, our team was supposed to ________________

over our hapless* rivals.

4. At the age of 42, the artist first became cognizant* of his ________________ genius.

5. Certain mice have an ________________ alertness that enables them to conquer the

researchers’ labyrinths.*

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. deem a. lying hidden

7. inherent b. to move in a lively manner

8. buff (n.) c. inborn

9. romp d. a fan, follower

10. latent e. believe, to judge

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to go against the grain —to irritate

My uncle is in favor of some protests, but certain demonstrations go against the grain.

N EW W ORDS

Tortuous

tôr´ chü əs

Itinerant

ī tin´ ər ənt

Peregrination

per ə grə nā´ shən

Conjugal

kon´ jə gəl

Barometer

bə rom´ ə tər

W EEK 18 D AY 4

MORE FACTS ABOUT CHIMPS

Chimps in the laboratory have demonstrated their ability to find their way out of the most

tortuous maze. They can press buttons, manipulate levers, avoid shocks, etc. When food is

placed out of reach, the animals can prepare a ladder of boxes to reach it. In his natural

habitat* the chimpanzee is something of an itinerant. He goes his nomadic* way through the

jungle, living on fruit, insects, and vegetables. With the aid of his long, powerful hands he can

swing rapidly from tree to tree and cover considerable ground in his peregrinations. Chimps

are loyal in their conjugal relationships, taking only one mate at a time. That may be another

barometer of these animals’ superior intelligence.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. The other drivers were nettled* about the ease with which our car ascended* the

________________ road.

2. Arguments over money have often led to ________________ havoc.*

3. The sedentary* twin was content to follow his brother ’s ________________ on a map.

4. Signs were posted in the lobby to prevent ________________ beggars and others of

that ilk* from entering.

5. The warmth of Mr. Smythe’s greeting each morning may be construed* as an excellent

________________ of his health.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. tortuous a. wandering

7. itinerant b. winding

8. peregrination c. travel

9. conjugal d. relating to marriage

10. barometer e. instrument for measuring change

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to wink at —to pretend not to see

There was a plethora* of evidence to show that the border guards would wink at illegal

shipments if they were paid in advance.

W EEK 18 D AY 5

REVIEW

While it is true that scientists have had remarkable success in teaching chimpanzees to

communicate, we can be certain that even super-monkeys would have difficulty with any of

the words below. However, higher animals who apply themselves can master all of them.

Match the twenty words with their meanings. *Reminder: Record answers on a sheet of paper.

(Note the similarity between numbers 8 and 9.)

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS

1. abortive a. not related to the subject

2. accommodate b. thin covering

3. barometer c. fruitless, failing

4. buff (n.) d. natural

5. conjugal e. polished, civilized

6. crave f. to make fit, adjust to

7. deem g. on the spur of the moment

8. inherent h. move in a lively manner

9. innate i. to desire

10. irrelevant j. instrument for measuring change

11. itinerant k. winding

12. latent l. inborn

13. modify m. believe, to judge

14. myriad n. going from place to place

15. peregrination o. a fan, follower, enthusiast

16. romp p. travel (n.)

17. spontaneous q. relating to marriage, connubial*

18. tortuous r. countless number

19. urbane s. to change

20. veneer t. lying hidden

IDIOMS

21. under the wire u. pretend not to see

22. to be at large v. just in time

23. go against the grain w. to irritate

24. wink at x. not confined or in jail

Make a record of those words you missed.

*For reference only

WORDS FOR

FURTHER STUDY MEANINGS

1. _________________________ _________________________

2. _________________________ _________________________

3. _________________________ _________________________

WORDSEARCH 18

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

4th Day

2nd Day

3rd Day

1st Day

A Shameful Situation

The plight of the migrant farm worker continues to frustrate the U.S. Labor Department, court

officials, legislators, religious groups, and community agencies. Men, women, and children

toil six and seven days a week to earn as little as $50 to $60 a week after being overcharged

for their food, medicine, and basic living needs. They are housed in ramshackle dormitories,

often with non-functioning toilets—a of their employers’ contempt for them; they

lack hot water and showers, and are given food that is barely fit for human consumption.

Unscrupulous contractors scour the countryside in search of homeless,, and

unemployed men and women, offering to put them to work at good jobs picking fruits and

vegetables. The U.S. Labor Department investigates the of complaints of abused

workers, issues fines, and revokes the licenses of contractors. But many such shady

employers pay the fines (which they to be operating expenses) and continue to run

company stores that cheat the workers, subjugate them with drugs and alcohol, them

with advances on their paltry wages at high interest, and use violence against those whom they

regard as troublemakers.

Fred Jones, a typical migratory worker from South Carolina, claims to have worked for $6

cash out of his $158 check. His story is repeated by hundreds of others who have been treated

shabbily by corrupt contractors. Until sufficient funds are allocated by state and federal

agencies, and until there is the proper public response, these abuses will continue.

N EW W ORDS

Megalomania

meg´ ə lō mā´ nēə

Profligate

prof´ lə git

Strife

strīf

Legion

lē´ jən

Coup

kü

W EEK 19 D AY 1

TROUBLE IN RURITANIA

King Andre of Ruritania was afflicted* with megalomania, and the people of his country

suffered, as a result. After ten years of his profligate rule, the treasury was bankrupt,

unemployment was rampant*, domestic strife was mounting, and the number of the king’s

opponents who were incarcerated* were legion. Following a bloodless coup, his nephew,

Prince Schubert, took command of the poor nation.

Sample Sentences Based upon your understanding of the new words, as discovered from the

context, use the correct words in the following sentences.

1. With a singular* disregard for his family, the ________________ husband spent his

salary on alcohol.

2. Each spouse said that the other was culpable* for their conjugal* ________________.

3. “The number of my followers is ________________,” said the flamboyant* politician.

4. The necessity for executing the leaders of the abortive* ________________ was

obviated* when they committed suicide.

5. Hitler ’s ________________ was a veneer* for his insecurity and feelings of inferiority.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. megalomania a. discord, disagreement

7. profligate b. revolution

8. strife c. wasteful

9. legion d. a large number

10. coup e. abnormal desire for wealth and power

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to play possum —to try to fool someone;