A profile of the woman who drinks to excess

The typical alcoholic woman is above average in intelligence, in her forties, married, with

two children. She started drinking socially in high school or college. Although frequently

incapacitated, she can fabricate a story skillfully and thus conceal her true physical condition.

She often attributes her alcoholism to connubial stress, boredom, or depression. A large

percentage of the women give family histories of alcoholism. Most female drinkers would

demur at the appellation of “alcoholic”—and that makes their treatment all the more difficult.

IM PORTANT NOTE: How good a detective are you? Did you spot one of the new words that had been

introduced earlier? (fabricate) It should be part of your vocabulary now. From time to time in

the lessons that follow, your alertness will be tested as a previously learned word is

reintroduced.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. Dave’s metamorphosis* from an honest person to one who could ________________

an alibi so adroitly* was amazing.

2. The widow grew maudlin* as she reminisced about her former ________________

bliss.

3. I will have to ________________ even if I receive a bona fide* invitation to run for the

G.O. council.

4. Because he was the scion* of the richest family on our block, Lenny was given the

________________ of “Rockefeller.”

5. He was ashamed to admit that a pesky* skin rash ________________ him for weeks at a

time.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. incapacitated a. to object

7. fabricate b. a name

8. connubial c. to lie, concoct*

9. demur d. related to marriage

10. appellation e. disabled, made unfit

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

in apple pie order —in neat order, good condition

The house was in dreadful condition when Mrs. Maslow arrived, but when she left it was

in apple pie order.

N EW W ORDS

Escalation

es´ kə lā´ shən

Indifference

in dif´ ər əns

Potential

pə ten´ shəl

Cumulative

kyü´ myə lə tiv

Recondite

rek´ ən dīt

W EEK 22 D AY 3

NEFARIOUS* EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

Aside from the reasons offered earlier, doctors have other interesting reasons for the

escalation in female drinking. They also indict* social acceptance and indifference to

alcohol’s potential danger as contributory factors. If women realized the harmful extent of the

cumulative effect of alcohol, they might taper off in their public and recondite drinking.

Forty-three percent of the female alcoholics in a survey showed evidence of liver damage,

and a quarter of the whole group had a high white-blood-cell count. Almost five percent of

the patients died shortly after their release from the hospital.

Sample Sentences If you can still see clearly after all the references to liquor, use the new

words in the following sentences.

1. Many derogatory* statements were heard from those who were opposed to further

________________ of the conflict.

2. With complete ________________ toward his personal safety, Lt. Regan openly

challenged the puissant* forces of the enemy.

3. When destitution* grips an area, there is excellent ________________ for trouble.

4. The ________________ effect of the summer ’s sultry* weather was to shorten

everyone’s temper.

5. The poet’s ________________ language precluded* any understanding of her theme.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. escalation a. possible

7. indifference b. accumulated

8. potential (adj.) c. secret, hidden, obscure

9. cumulative d. an increase, intensification

10. recondite e. lack of concern

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

apple polishing —trying to gain favor by gifts or flattery

If the way to advancement in this company is through apple polishing, I quit!

N EW W ORDS

Palliate

pal´ ē āt

Delude

di lüd´

Prelude

prel´ yüd

Chimerical

kə mer´ ə kəl

Acknowledge

ak nol´ ij

W EEK 22 D AY 4

DANGER SIGNALS

A potential* female alcoholic should be cognizant* of certain danger signals:

a. Using alcohol in an attempt to palliate her problems.

b. Deluding herself about the extent of her drinking habits.

c. Drinking at regular time periods, both day and night.

d. Reliance upon alcohol as a prelude to a major social obligation.

e. Making unrealistic promises about terminating* her drinking.

f. Using alcohol as a medication for real or chimerical illnesses.

If in evaluating* her drinking, a woman acknowledged that several of the danger signals

applied to her, she should see a physician.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. Monte refused to ________________ the extrinsic* pressures that were causing him to

do poorly in his sophomore year.

2. We must not allow fulsome* praise to ________________ us about our actual abilities.

3. The drugs could only ________________ the symptoms, not provide the cure.

4. As a ________________ to his performance, the bullfighter vowed to do penance* for

his sins.

5. The scheme sounded ________________, but we were indoctrinated* to believe that it

could work.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. palliate a. visionary, imaginary, fantastic

7. delude b. alleviate, relieve without curing

8. prelude c. introduction

9. chimerical d. to fool

10. acknowledge e. admit

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

the Draconian Code —a very severe set of rules (Draco, an Athenian lawmaker of the