Make My Ostrich Burger Well Done

Just about 100 years ago, there arose an industry in the state of Arizona that seems very odd to

us today. We know of cattle ranches and sheep ranches, but would you believe... ostrich

ranches? This business became popular as women found ostrich feathers a

addition to their wardrobes.

Ostriches are easy to raise. They eat and drink less than cattle, and their eggs are large enough

to feed ten people! During the days of ostrich ranching, feathers were sold for as

much as $300 a pound, so it is easy to see why that business was so attractive.

However, women’s fashions changed after World War I, and the market for ostrich plumes

fell. Growers had to a shrinking market. The price tumbled to about $10 for a bird.

As ostrich feathers became in the fashion world, ostrich ranching came to an end.

Interestingly enough, ostrich ranchers may be coming back into vogue because nutritionists

tell us that ostrich meat is low in cholesterol. We may not go wild over the feathers, but pass

the lean meat, please. Hold the mayo, too.

N EW W ORDS

Glib

glib

Homogeneous

hō mə jē´ ne əs

Malleable

mal´ ē ə bəl

Legerdemain

lej ər də mān´

Trend

trend

W EEK 38 D AY 1

THE ENIGMA* OF FASHION

Of all the pressures young people face, the most pernicious* is that of fashion. By this is

meant the current vogue* in dress. The teenagers, who are so glib when they speak of

“individuality,” are turned into a homogeneous mass by the latest craze in fashion. How can

youngsters who vehemently* resist advice from the older generation become so malleable in

the hands of those who “make” fashion? Perhaps the sudden shifts in fashion occur

fortuitously*. Or is there some group who, through legerdemain, switches styles and customs

on us right before our eyes? Today’s teenagers seem to be quite gullible* when it comes to

embracing the latest trend in fashions. But then, they have their elders as sage* examples to

follow.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. The charlatan* was able to wheedle* money out of the naïve* audience with a

________________ talk on the medicine that would expunge* pain.

2. They could not follow the ________________ of his ideas, but his verbal dexterity*

galvanized* the gullible* listeners.

3. They were engrossed* as an ill man was “cured” before their eyes; some of the more

urbane* said it was ________________.

4. He ingratiated* himself into their confidence, and the ________________ crowd was

shaped into a subjugated* mass.

5. While they started out as individuals, they became a ________________ group whom

he could motivate as he willed.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. glib a. capable of being shaped or formed

7. homogeneous b. sleight of hand, deceptive adroitness*

8. malleable c. smooth of speech

9. legerdemain d. same or uniform

10. trend e. general direction

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

by hook or by crook —any way at all, at any cost

He had bought the white elephant* without rhyme or reason*; now he had to get rid of it

by hook or by crook.

N EW W ORDS

Stagnant

stag´ nənt

Fatal

fā´ tl

pass é

pa sā´

Procrastinate

prō kras´ tə nāt

Facet

fas´ it

W EEK 38 D AY 2

THE ECONOMICS OF FASHION

In dress, the fashion appears to be “set” by a few foreign designers and a handful of affluent*

individuals who purchase these designs. The fashion industry is cognizant* of the fact that

fashions must change rapidly and often or their economy would become stagnant. For this

industry it would prove fatal if it were not vigilant* and prepared well in advance for a new

fashion trend.* As the old fashion becomes pass é and a new fashion seems to be in the

making, the garment manufacturers cannot afford to procrastinate. They rush large sums of

money into production for a mass market. Having invested heavily, the manufacturers do

everything possible to influence and motivate* the purchasers. Through every facet of

publicity and advertising the industry exploits* the natural desire for people to be au courant*

with the latest fashions.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. To the consternation* of the distraught* parents they learned their son was accused of

using the lethal* weapon on that ________________ occasion.

2. We wish for halcyon* days when the warlike solutions will have become

________________.

3. Edna recalled with nostalgia* many ________________ of her school days.

4. We all tend to ________________ when faced with an unsavory* task.

5. The iconoclast* has the propensity* for reproaching* those who feel complacent* with

leading a ________________ existence.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. stagnant a. delay, put off

7. fatal b. motionless, dull, inactive

8. passé c. deadly, disastrous

9. procrastinate d. one side or view of person or situation

10. facet e. outmoded, old-fashioned

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to get up on the wrong side of the bed —to be in a bad mood

When his mother raised Cain* about his slovenly* room, he accused her of getting up on

the wrong side of the bed.

N EW W ORDS

Foist

foist

Stigmatize

stig´ mə tīz

Capitulate

kə pich´ ə lāt

Audacity

ô das´ ə tē

Tantalize

tan´ tl īz

W EEK 38 D AY 3

WHAT NEXT?

Once the fashion industry has been able to foist a new style on the teenager, the older

generation tends to stigmatize it as some form of rebellion. What is often ignored is that the

young consumers capitulate to what is originated* by someone outside of their group. The

feelings of individuality and audacity that the teenager gets from a new style of dress result

from the propensity* of their elders to disparage* them. The actual situation is that the

clothing fashions soon become accepted by all; there is nothing upsetting or revolutionary

about them. While people are becoming complacent* about the “new,” the clothing industry is

busy planning how to tantalize the teenager with next year ’s “fashion.” This arbitrary*

decision is guaranteed to foment* consternation* among adults once again in the following

year.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. Despite tenacious* resistance, they were ousted* from the strongpoint and had to

________________ to the enemy.

2. It was an asinine* thing to do—to ________________ his opponent as a bigot* and thus

exacerbate* an already bitter campaign.

3. It is common to hear people disparage* those who paint in the modern genre*; they

speak about the ________________ of the artist who submits a high white canvas with a

black border as a serious work.

4. They are dubious* of such an artist and accuse him of trying to ________________ as

a work of art a rudimentary* exercise.

5. It is reprehensible* to ________________ a young child with the promise of a reward

for being good when you have no intention of giving it.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. foist a. surrender, make terms

7. stigmatize b. to mark with a disgrace

8. capitulate c. boldness, daring

9. audacity d. pass off slyly, pass as genuine

10. tantalize e. tease or torment by offering something good, but not deliver

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

castles in the air —a dream about some wonderful future

People on Skid Row* often build castles in the air.

N EW W ORDS

Retort

ri tôrt´

Reticent

ret´ ə sənt

Tacit

tas´ it

Chicanery

shi kā´ nə r ē

Docile

dos´ əl

W EEK 38 D AY 4

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

To the derogatory* comments from the older generation the teenagers might retort that new

fashions and styles are adopted by the elders with alacrity.* Though they complain, women

emulate* their daughters by shortening or lengthening their hems. They may appear reticent

about the bother and expense of altering their wardrobe, but they give tacit approval to the

change by rushing to the department stores where they jostle* each other to buy copies of the

more expensive dresses. The conclusion one might reach after observing how women

countenance* the arbitrary* changes year after year is that they are naïve* or victims of some

chicanery practiced by the clothing industry. Women may appear hapless* before the

intimidation* of “style,” but the real truth may lie in the fact that they are so docile because

they secretly enjoy the yearly excitement around the latest fashions.

There’s another familiar word reintroduced today. Did you recognize reticent?

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. The reporter divulged* the blatant* ________________ involved in the awarding of the

contract.

2. Even the most ________________ person may become fractious* when he gets only a

pittance* for his hard labor.

3. His egregious* behavior brought a ________________ reproach* to his mother ’s eyes.

4. Most politicians are ________________ when asked to divulge* their ambitions.

5. He refused to ________________ to the rash* question about his propensity* for

imbibing.*

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. retort (v.) a. understood, implied, not stated

7. reticent b. easy to manage

8. tacit c. to answer, reply

9. chicanery d. silent or reserved

10. docile e. trickery, underhandedness

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to maintain the status quo —to keep things as they are

You hit the nail on the head* when you said we ought to maintain the status quo and not

change horses in midstream.*

W EEK 38 D AY 5

REVIEW

No matter what the fashion in dress, the fashion in education is an extensive vocabulary. Keep

up with the fashion; build your vocabulary wardrobe.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS

1. audacity a. reserved, silent

2. capitulate b. pass as genuine, pass off slyly

3. chicanery c. disastrous, deadly

4. docile d. smooth of speech

5. facet e. one side or view of person or situation

6. fatal f. daring, boldness

7. foist g. reply, answer

8. glib h. uniform, same

9. homogeneous i. capable of being formed or shaped

10. legerdemain j. put off, delay

11. malleable k. make terms, surrender

12. passé l. underhandedness, trickery

13. procrastinate m. not stated, understood, implied

14. reticent n. to mark with a disgrace

15. retort o. inactive, dull, motionless

16. stagnant p. general direction

17. stigmatize q. old-fashioned, outmoded

18. tacit r. easy to manage

19. tantalize s. deceptive adroitness,* sleight of hand

20. trend t. tease or torment by offering something good, but

fail to deliver

IDIOMS

21. castles in the air u. to be in a bad mood

22. to get up on the wrong side of

the bed

v. a dream about a wonderful future

23. by hook or by crook w. at any cost, any way at all

24. to maintain the status quo x. to keep things as they are

Take that extra few minutes now to master the few words you made errors with.

*For reference only

WORDS FOR

FURTHER STUDY MEANINGS

1. _________________________ _________________________

2. _________________________ _________________________

3. _________________________ _________________________

WORDSEARCH 38

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

1st Day

1st Day

4th Day

3rd Day

2nd Day

TV—The Octopus

Is there anyone you know who can remember a time when there was no television? Perhaps a

grandparent, but no one much younger is able to do so. At the beginning, only a handful of

stations existed. Early programs imitated each other and tended to be. Some time

later, there was the cable TV expansion and greater variety was available. The developing

was for ever-larger numbers of programs dealing with information as well as

entertainment.

The TV industry, never when it comes to expanding viewer interests, brought even

more channels to the air, broadcasting 24 hours every day of the week. The objective was to

special groups with programs directed to special tastes and interests. Soon channels

devoted to games, to how to fix or make things, to romance dramas, to cartoons, etc., sprang

into existence. It appears that every of a viewer ’s interest is being addressed. As

more and more channels come on the air, as the result of new technology, the variety is

expanding beyond anything imagined by those who can recall the beginnings of this magical

medium.

N EW W ORDS

Saga

sä´ ga

Belated

bi lāt´ tid

Decrepit

di krep´ it

Imperturbable

im´ pər tėr´ bə bəl

Vacillate

vas´ ə lāt

W EEK 39 D AY 1

RULE, BRITANNIA

An unforgettable saga of World War II has to do with the small French coastal town of

Dunkirk. There, in 1940, thousands of British troops made a belated escape from the

awesome* power of the German army and air force. They were removed by an array* of

private boats, from huge yachts to decrepit fishing boats. At their own volition,* the skippers

came close to the shore, while German planes bombed implacably.* They remained

imperturbable under heavy fire. When their vessels were loaded, they dashed back to England.

Once unloaded, they did not vacillate, but returned with equanimity* to their vigil* in the

danger zone. The British proved once again that they are paragons* of comradeship in times

of jeopardy.*

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. The ________________ of a lone man confronting* the turbulent* oceans in a small

boat is an exploit* we find laudable.*

2. The speaker remained ________________ while his audience shouted caustic*

comments about his mendacious* activities.

3. The ingrate refused to accept Cindy’s ________________ gift.

4. When released from incarceration,* he was gaunt* and ________________.

5. We are all familiar with the cliché* that he who ________________ is lost.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. saga a. hesitate, fluctuate

7. belated b. heroic story

8. decrepit c. broken down, worn out

9. imperturbable d. late, delayed

10. vacillate e. calm, steady, serene

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

a sacred cow —a person or thing that cannot be criticized

(From India, where cows may not be harmed because of religious rules)

I decided to throw down the gauntlet* by exposing the boss’s son who had been ruling

the roost* as the sacred cow of the business.

N EW W ORDS

Staunch

stônch

Opprobrium

ə prō´ brē əm

Machiavellian

Mak´ ē ə vel ē ən

Unconscionable

un kon´ shə ne bəl

Pandemonium

pan´ də mō´ nē əm

W EEK 39 D AY 2