Psst . . . Need World Series Tickets?

Think about this for a moment. Is there anything wrong in buying something for one dollar

and reselling it for two dollars? Naturally, you would be correct if you saw nothing amiss

with this transaction; it’s the way a capitalist economy works. But, if you bought a ticket to a

rock concert or baseball game for ten dollars and sold it for twenty, you would be committing

an of the law. You might ask, “What’s so about this?” The answer is that

you would be guilty of the practice known as “scalping.” Does an individual who offers a

scarce ticket at a price above the original price deserve the connected with the word

“scalping”?

These hard-working and risk-taking individuals see themselves as go-betweens in a world

where people are willing to spend additional money for a popular event. However, law

enforcement officials remain in the face of all reason as they arrest and fine these

enterprising salesmen. Those believers in punishing law-breakers find nothing

wrong with trying to halt the scalping of tickets. For others, it is a way of doing business that

they claim hurts no one and is in keeping with a profit-driven economy.

N EW W ORDS

Rhetoric

ret´ ər ik

Clique

klēk

Extol

ek stōl´

Mentor

men´ tər

Facile

fas´ əl

W EEK 40 D AY 1

A POLITICAL SHOW

The 2012 elections offered another example of politics as show business. Most politicians

have prepared speeches dealing with the prevalent* topics of the day. They can maintain a

fervid* flow of rhetoric for hours at a time. In each locality where he is to appear, the advance

work is prepared by a clique of trustworthy aides. In preparation for the show, they have

dispersed* leaflets, put up posters, and sent out cars and trucks with loudspeakers to extol the

erudite* qualities of their candidate. Soon, the crowd gathers. Loyal party workers come

forward to shake the hand of their mentor. Now, with the facile solutions to complex problems

carefully memorized, the show is ready to begin. One moment facetious,* the next moment

profound,* the candidate works to convince the incredulous* among the voters.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. It is not long before a young star has a ________________ around him who

sporadically* get their names into the newspapers.

2. At a time that requires tangible* proposals, all he offers is unconscionable*

________________.

3. The detective interrogated* the adamant* prisoner in such a ________________ way

that he confessed after giving incontrovertible* evidence.

4. Youngsters scoff* when their elders ________________ the halcyon* days of long ago.

5. Amidst the adulation of the throng,* the film star, in all humility,* credited her

________________ as the one most responsible.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. rhetoric a. counselor, coach, tutor

7. clique b. use (sometimes exaggerated) of language

8. extol c. easily accomplished or attained

9. mentor d. praise highly

10. facile e. small, exclusive group of people

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to live in a fool’s paradise —to be happy without a real basis

He lived in a fool’s paradise while he sowed wild oats*, but he soon had to pay the piper.*

N EW W ORDS

Cant

kant

Umbrage

um´ brij

Magnanimous

mag nan´ ə məs

Vilify

vil´ ə fī

Elucidate

i lü´ sə dāt

W EEK 40 D AY 2

GETTING A GOOD LOOK

The television press interview is conducive* to close scrutiny* of a candidate. His public

speeches may contain many cant phrases, but a sharp question by an astute* reporter can

destroy a cliché * filled statement. The politician now will procrastinate* in his answer; a new

facet* of his personality may be revealed by his demeanor.* Perhaps he will take umbrage at a

suggestion that he favors the affluent.* His record is searched for evidence that he has been

equally magnanimous to the indigent.* He accuses the reporter of attempting to vilify him. Is

he being accused of turpitude* in office? It is time to discreetly* go on to another topic. The

candidate wishes to extol* the virtues of his program and record. The press wants to allude*

to things that keep him in the midst of controversy. They insist that he elucidate positions that

the politician would rather leave in a nebulous* state.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. We feel so sanctimonious* when we ________________ the character of a felon*.

2. The diplomat was astute* enough to see through the ________________ of the

Machiavellian* ambassador.

3. A somber* examination of those indigent* families, bereft* of hope, sunken in apathy,*

should motivate* us to be more ________________ in our attempts to improve their lot.

4. I was flabbergasted* when he took ________________ at my whimsical* remarks.

5. The judge ordered the censor to ________________ his reasons for removing

passages from the book in such a capricious* manner.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. cant a. insincere or almost meaningless talk

7. umbrage b. to make clear

8. magnanimous c. resentment, offense

9. vilify d. malign,* slander

10. elucidate e. generous, noble

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

the sum and substance —the heart or substantial part

The sum and substance of our pyrrhic victory* was that our hopes for a stable future had

gone up in smoke.*

N EW W ORDS

Vapid

vap´ id

Unwieldy

un wēl´ dē´

Proximity

prok sim´ ə tē

Lassitude

las´ ə tüd

Vitiate

vish´ ē āt

W EEK 40 D AY 3

SEEING IS LEARNING

While we are all cognizant* of the importance of words to create certain impressions, gesture

is relegated* to a much lesser role. Gestures are an important concomitant* to even the most

vapid speech, enhancing it and giving the hearer something to look at while he listens. The

value of seeing at the same time as listening was shown when a class at a university, unwieldy

because of its large size, was split up. One group was put into a room in proximity to good

loudspeakers. Every nuance* of the lecturer ’s voice could be heard clearly. Because they had

no person on whom to place their attention, they soon took on the appearance of extreme

lassitude; most students became lethargic* and rested their heads on their desks. The

separation of visual and aural communication tended to vitiate the learning process. The

listening group received grades lower than those received by those who could look at as well

as hear the instructor.

Once more your keen eye and memory were being tested. Did you recognize lassitude as being

from an earlier lesson?

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. As the scion* of an affluent* family, he was often in ________________ to opulence.*

2. After playing with his progeny* in the enervating sun, he staggered back to his room

where he was overcome with ________________.

3. As a concomitant* to his belligerent* and vituperative* antipathy* toward his

government, he became an expatriate,* but he found it a ________________ life.

4. Kyra was so disgruntled* about having to move the ________________ piano, she

procrastinated* for days.

5. The irrelevant* evidence seemed to ________________ the prosecutor ’s case and

precluded* a conviction.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. vapid a. bulky, difficult to handle

7. unwieldy b. destroy the use or value

8. proximity c. uninteresting, dull

9. lassitude d. nearness

10. vitiate e. weariness, weakness

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

on pins and needles —to be on edge, jumpy

He was on pins and needles while he cooled his heels* in the principal’s office.

N EW W ORDS

Augment

ôg ment´

Fatuous

fach´ ü əs

Contort

kən tôrt´

Repertoire

rep´ ər twär

Imperceptible

im´ pər sep´ tə bəl

W EEK 40 D AY 4

THE HAMMY OLD DAYS

Actors depend upon their ability to gesticulate* almost as much as upon speech to obtain their

desired histrionic* effects. With them, gesture serves much more than merely to augment

speech. When their communication is by gesture alone, it is called pantomime. In the early

silent motion picture period, gestures were flamboyant.* To show that he was distraught*

about the danger in which the heroine had been placed, the hero would go through the most

fatuous actions. He would stagger, beat his breast, tear his hair, and contort his face into the

most doleful* appearance. There weren’t many simple or restrained gestures in his repertoire.

The heroine, to indicate her love, would fling her arms wide and ardently* jump into her

sweetheart’s arms. It was only much later that actors became skilled enough to communicate

with the audience through discreet* gestures and almost imperceptible changes in facial

expression that could transmit nuances* of emotion.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. The new employee wanted to gain favor with his boss, and his obsequious* desires led

to the most ________________ behavior.

2. Her virtuosity* was demonstrated by the works she performed from her

______________.

3. He had always appeared virile,* so that the ________________ decline toward senility*

went unnoticed until he succumbed* and began to use a cane.

4. The paroxysm* of coughing served to ________________ her body until she could

gain a respite.*

5. The parsimonious* octogenarian* sought to ________________ his wealth by

removing it from its cache* and placing it in a bank.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. augment a. extremely slight or gradual

7. fatuous b. enlarge, increase

8. contort c. foolish, silly, inane*

9. repertoire d. twist violently

10. imperceptible e. works that an artist is ready to perform

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to have at one’s fingertips —to have thorough knowledge, to have ready

He had at his fingertips an extensive repertoire.*

W EEK 40 D AY 5

REVIEW

If there’s one thing a politician must know how to do, it is to use words effectively. He must

weigh carefully each and every utterance. He must also select the proper word for the

audience he is addressing. You may never run for office, but it would be comforting to know

you were ready for it—vocabulary-wise!

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS

1. augment a. twist violently

2. cant b. increase, enlarge

3. clique c. nearness

4. contort d. destroy the use or value

5. elucidate e. praise highly

6. extol f. use (sometimes exaggerated) of language

7. facile g. to make clear

8. fatuous h. slander, malign*

9. imperceptible i. difficult to handle, bulky

10. lassitude j. works that an artist is ready to perform

11. magnanimous k. tutor, counselor, coach

12. mentor l. noble, generous

13. proximity m. insincere or almost meaningless talk

14. repertoire n. small, exclusive group of people

15. rhetoric o. extremely slight or gradual

16. umbrage p. dull, uninteresting

17. unwieldy q. weakness, weariness

18. vapid r. inane,* foolish, silly

19. vilify s. easily accomplished or attained

20. vitiate t. offense, resentment

IDIOMS

21. to live in a fool’s paradise u. the heart or substantial part

22. the sum and substance v. to be on edge, jumpy

23. on pins and needles w. to have ready, to have a thorough knowledge

x. to be happy without a real basis

24. to have at one’s fingertips

Get to work learning the words that gave you trouble.

*For reference only

WORDS FOR

FURTHER STUDY MEANINGS

1. _________________________ _________________________

2. _________________________ _________________________

3. _________________________ _________________________

HAPLESS HEADLINES

(From Weeks 36–40)

From the list of vocabulary words below choose the best ones to complete each of the

newspaper headlines.

a. Therapy k. Phobia

b. Facile l. Clique

c. Fatal m. Fatuous

d. Decrepit n. Repertoire

e. Confront o. Motivate

f. Retort p. Capitulate

g. Vehemently q. Glib

h. Tacit r. Lassitude

i. Legerdemain s. Mentor

j. Vapid t. Vertigo

1. U.S. Diplomats __________ Chinese over Alleged A-bomb Tests

2. Psychologist Claims Success in Treating Flying __________

3. Rebels __________, Throw Down Arms

4. Auto Accident Proves __________ to Family

5. __________ Salesman Arrested in Con Game

6. Witness __________ Denies Allegation

7. Pentagon Asks for Funds to Replace “__________” Aircraft

8. New Company Director Praises Former __________

9. La Boh è me Is Mainstay of Opera Star ’s __________

10. Speech __________ Urged After Stroke

WORDSEARCH 40

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

2nd Day

1st Day

4th Day

1st Day

2nd Day

In Thailand, Mum’s the Word

In this country we take for granted our right to speak out about our elected officials in any

way we wish, without fear of arrest or imprisonment. The most disrespectful language is

allowed. While some may take at an insult against the president, our Constitution

protects that right.

Now, consider the country of Thailand. That land in southeastern Asia is ruled by a king.

What happens to an individual who fails to this monarch? There is a case of a

person who joked that if he were king he could sleep late every day and drink wine in the

afternoon. For this somewhat remark, he was sent to prison for seven years. Or take

the story of the woman who was hanging up the king’s photograph. When the police asked her

what she was doing, she replied, “I’m nailing it up there on my wall.” She said “it” instead of

“the king’s photograph” and for this alleged insult, she also was sent away for seven

years.

While some U.S. citizens may our leaders, in Thailand the less said the better.

N EW W ORDS

Curry

kėr´ ē

Pall

pôl

Succulent

suk´ yə lənt

Satiety

sə tī´ ə tē

Intrinsic

in trin´ sik

W EEK 41 D AY 1

QUEEN OF THE SUPERMARKET

The American housewife is queen of all she surveys in the supermarket. She decides what

items shall be purchased. Grocery manufacturers are well aware of her power to make one

product a success and another a failure. They spend huge sums developing new products with

which to curry her favor. Fearful that a successful product will soon begin to pall, the

manufacturers, without cessation,* come out with “new and improved” versions to whet* her

appetite. Sometimes it is only a box or package that has been changed—perhaps a colorful

photo of a succulent meal on a TV dinner box. In the larger supermarkets the housewife is

faced with a satiety of merchandise, particularly in the copiously* stocked laundry detergent

section. While there may be almost no intrinsic difference among the many brands,

advertising and packaging serves to importune* her to buy one rather than another.

Did you spot it? The “new word” you’ve seen before? It’s intrinsic.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

1. The connoisseur* of fine foods declared the restaurant the ultimate* in the preparation

of ________________ meat dishes.

2. She coveted* the antiquated* locket even though it had only an ________________

value.

3. He discreetly* tried to ________________ favor with his employer.

4. The host exhorted* his guests to eat to ________________.

5. Those conditions were not conducive* to a felicitous* evening as the dance would

soon ________________ for the lack of feminine companionship.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. curry a. excess, overly full, surfeit*

7. pall b. within itself, inherent*

8. succulent c. to seek favor by flattery

9. satiety d. juicy

10. intrinsic e. cease to please, become dull

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

a pretty kettle of fish —a mess, troubles

He thought it was an innocent white lie, but it got him into a pretty kettle of fish.

N EW W ORDS

Potpourri

pō´ pü rē´

Sanction

sangk´ shən

Denote

di nōt´

Allude

ə lüd´

Insidious

in sid´ ē əs

W EEK 41 D AY 2