Ⅲ SSON l

One way to remember a new word is to associate it in your mind with another word
you already know. Often an unfamiliar word will be related to familiar terms
through a common root. This is where knowing the etymology (origin) of a word
comes in handy. For instance, you already know verb, the name of one kind of
word, and verbal, "expressed in words." BOth come from the Latin rOOt verbum,
meaning "word." The same root gives us a word you may not know,
verbatim-word for word, expressed in precisely the same words. The lawyer re'
quested the defendant to repeat his comments verbatim.
Once you realize that an English word containingverb always has something to do
with words, it becomes easy to remember the meaning of vqbotim,
Another example: The common word line can help you fix in your mind less com-
mon words in the same word family, such as:
dellneete-to outline, sketch out, depict, describe. The artist quickly delineoted the
general contours ol thefigure.
rccfillnerr-having straight lines, forming a straight line. The rectilineor paths
create long vistasfrom one end of the garden to the other.
llneege-direct line of descent from an ancestor. Only one locol family can trace its
lineage back to thefirst European settlers.
The Latin base clud or clzs means "shut" or "close." Among the many English
words deriving from this root are include, exclude, andconclusion, as well as:
rtclusc-person who deliberately shuts himself away from the world, one who leads
a toiita.y life. The man had become o recluse, rorely going out ond refusing
invitations from his former associotes.
preclude-to shut out as a possibility, make impossible. Losing all our savings at the
trock will preclude our taking a vacation this year.
sccludc-to shut away from others or from observation, make isolated or private.
The cabin was in a s*luded spot, out of sight of the road'
Duc or duct is a Latin st€m meaning "to lead." It is at the root of many familiar
tenns, including dadu ct, produce, conduct, and reduce. lt also gives us:
ebduct-(lead iway) to kidnap, steal a person. The heiress wos aMucted from her
home and heldfor ransom.
Erdncc-(lead across) to expose to public scorn' defame, slandet. He hAd traduced
hii former partner by spreading lies that he wos a crook, The Latin ancestor of
poduce meant "to lead as a spectacle, to display publicly as a disgraceful
object."
conduclve-leading to, helpinS, tending to promote. Mother found the woterbed
conducive to o tatful sleP
4 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EffiCISE I synonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in

meaning to the given word.
l.delineate: a) lead up to b) straighten up c) draw an outline d) scheme
2. preclude: a) make impossible b) open c) make likely d) come before
3. conducive: a) attentive b) leading to c) without curves d) prophetic
4. abduction: a) investigation b) ransom note c) subtraction d) kidnap-
ping
5. seclude: a) silence b) shut off from view c) apprehend d) leave out
6. rectilinear: a) righteous b) vertical c) circular d) in a straight line
7. traduce: a) publicly deny b) publicly defame c) defend openly d) hide
away
8. lineage: a) grandchildren b) drawings c) line of descent d) yardage
9. verbatim: a) verbose b) word for word c) in sign language d) like a
proverb
10. recluse: a) one who lives in willing isolation b) prisoner c) patient
d) alienist

EIEBCISE IIcircle the lerter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. If going out to eat precludes your seeing a movie, a) you wil see the
movie b) you will probably be late for dinner c) you won't be able to do
both d) you will do neither
2. A rectilinear sketch is drawn a) all with straight lines b) larger than life
c) sloppily d) with arabesques
3. To repeat a conversation verbatim, a person must have a) a loud voice
b) typing skilts c) an excellenr memory d) hypnotic powers
4. Traducing a friend is a kind of a) retreat from intimacy b) loyarty
c) testimonial d) betrayal
5. To abduct a chitd is to take him or her away a) illegally b) on short
notice c) to private school d) by court order
6. An environment conducive to physical well-being is a) chronic
b) luxurious c) healthful d) noxious
7. A secluded meeting is held in
a) a public forum b) a private spot c) an
emergency d) a classroom
E. In delineating a problem, one a) blames others for it b) makes it harder
to understand c) resolves it d) indicates its nature and scope
9. A racehorse's lineage includes his a) inoculations b) sire and dam
c) owner d) record of earnings
10. A recluse likes to live a) in seclusion b) exclusively c) in abduction
d) by traducing society
 ´
い  一
い
Lesson 2/ 5

E[E[[ISE III entonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase most nearly its oP7osite.

l. seclude curved
2. recluse in paraphrase
3. preclude social butterfly
4. traduce make inevitable
5. verbatim preventive
6. conducive uphold the honor of
7. rectilinear expose to view

Using Roots
The ioot meaning, or etymology, of a word is hardly ever precisely the same as its
meaning in current usage. Knowing where a word comes from doesn't tell you
exactly *t at tt e word means now or how to use it. For example, you miSht figure
out that deduct comes from de (away) and duct (lead). But how do you learn that
one can deduct a number frOm a total, or an expense from a taxable income, but not
a cow from a barn? The quickest way is to look up the precise definition of deduct
in
a good dictionary. The surest way-and this is probably the way you learned
deduct-is to read it and hear it over and over again in context'
what good, then, is knowing etymologies? once you've learned a word, roots can
help you-fix it in your memory. The familiar root, which connects the new word to
words you already know, can be a clue to remind you of what the word means.

LESSON 2

Yocol, "having to do with the voice," comes from vox, the Latin wOrd for "vgige"'
There's a relatid verb in Latin-vocore, "to call." Vox and vocore have given rise to
lots of English words. Knowing that the voc root means "voice" or "call" will make
it easier to remember the meanings of:
vocation-a calling, a career or lifework, especially one to which a person feels dedi-
cated. Like mony others, he had chosen medicine os his vocation out of a desire
to hetp people and to receive o lot of recognition.
avocation-hobby, work done for pleasure and interest rather than profit' By
pro'
fession she's an engineer, but her avocation is flying
vociierous-making a noisy outcry' shouting. The class wos vociferow in its obiec-
tion to the surPrise quiz.
irrevocrble-not able to be called back or undone. The decision wos irrevocable:
there wos no turning back once the letter was moiled. Irrevocoble is formed
from the verb revoke, "to call back."
evocrtive-calling forth, tending to remind, suSgestive. To me lrothing is more
evocative of spring thon the scent of fresh lilacs. The adjective comes from
the
verb evoke, "to call up as a mental image.''
6 / Esential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

equlvocrte-to mislead, especially to tell the truth in such a way that it is misunder-
stood. The government equivocated in reporting thot unemployment had de-
clined; the number of people looking tor work had declined, but only becouse
many iob seekers had given up looking. The adjective for something deliberate-
ly ambiguous, for something that equivocates, isequivocal.

Another Latin word, similis, is already familiar to you through the English word
similor. Similb means "like." It is the root of a whole family of English words, in.
cluding:
simllitude-state of being similar, likeness, image or counterpart. The three types of
zebro moy not be as closely related as their apporent simititude has ted iotur-
alists to assume.
verfslmilltude-appearance of truth. The set designer reconstntcted the presidential
car with greot verisimilitude.
rsslmilate-to absorb and make part of something larger, become like and be incor-
porated into an entity or system. In time, each generation o/ immigrants be-
comes assimiloted into the American populotion.
facslmile-an exact copy. To be certain of the originol punctuation, the editor stud-
ied a facsimile of the outhor's monuscript.
slmlle-a verbal comparison using fite or as. "My love is like a red, red rose', is o
classic simile.

EXEBCISE I synonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.

l. assimilating summoning up
2. simile appearance ofaccuracy
3. irrevocable kind of comparison
4. equivocating clamorous
5. avocation line of work
6. similitude resemblance
7. facsimile perfect reproduction
8. evocative making like something else
9. vociferous hobby
10. verisimilitude deliberately misleading
Il. vocation impossible to call back

Effi0ISE II Choose the best word to complete each sentence. Write it in the
blank.
l. For most people, sports are a(n) ; very few can make a
living as athletes.
similitude avocation
vocation facsimile
2. The of the portrait is striking; one feels convinced that
this is how the man really looked.
assimilation simile
verisimilitude avocatlon
 Lesson 2 / 7

3. A photocopy is a(n) of an origind page.

facsimile vocation
avocation assimilation

4. The proverb "There's no use crying over spilled milk" means that the past is

equivocal facsimile
irrevocablc vociferous

5. An organism grows bY nutrients.

assimilating woking
revoking equivocating

He looked on teaching not merely as a job but as a

to

which he could happily devote his life.

facsimile similitude
verisimilitude vocation

7. An effectivc stage set need not be elaborate; it need only be

of the appropriate mood.
vociferous evocative
an avocation a similitude

E. "She eats like a pig" is an example of a(n)

v(rcation verisilnilitude
evocation simile

g. Not wanting to admit that he hadn't read the book, he made a(n)
response.
assimilated vociferous
equivocal irrevocable

10. A family resemblance often includes a of manners and

speech.
similitude verisimilitude
vocation simile
din。
I l. The shouting of the hecklers broke out again in a(n)
irrevocable equivocal
vociferous evocative

EffiIISE III Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
l. A picture is evocative of the countryside if it a) is a photograph
Van Gogh d) is a
t) reminds you of being in the country c) is by
citYscaPe

2. Equivocating is a way of a) hedging b) deliberating c)

doodling
d) intimidating
3. A vociferous crowd is not a) riotous b) riled up c) enthusiastic
d) quiet
pursued a) relentlessly
4. While a vocation provides a living, an avocation is
pleasure d) for tax purposes
b) under durcss c) for
8 / Essential vOcabulary for C011ege‐ Bound Students

5.A similitude to the truth is called a)a simile b)an aversion c)a lie
d)a Verisimilitude

6. A student assimilates information by a) talking b) asking questions

c) buying books d) studying
7. A facsimile
reproduces an original text a) in every detail b) in a
condensed version c) with annotations d) in paraphrase
8. A simile is a figure of speech that a) insults people b) makes a
comparison c) copies something exactly d) is rarely used
9. If a mistake is nor irrevocable, it a) can be analyzed b) is fatal c)
be corrected d) is noticeable

LESSON 3

A figure of speech is a way of speaking that is out of the ordinary or nonliteral.

A
simlle, defined in Lesson 2, is one kind of figure. If I say that my aunt was coming
down the street like a ship under fulr sail, I probably mean that she was
moving fast,
bearing down on me, and looking large and awesome. you, as a listener,
understand
that saying my aunt looked like a ship was a figure of speech.
A metaphor is another figure of speech. Like a simile, a metaphor makes a com_
parison, but it does so without using /rke or as. If I tell you
thai as a child Angela
was an ugly duckling, I am using a metaphor. I do not mean that
Angela *a, io.-
merly an unattractive young duck, complete with feathers and webbed feet.
As a
listener, you understand what I mean-that Angela was awkward or
oddlooking as
a child but that she grew up to be beauriful, like the ugly duckling who grew
inio a
swan. You know that this is figurative, not literal, language.
We use figurative language all the time without thinking about it. For
instance,
budgets are "slashed," issues are "sidestepp€d," costs ;skyrocket,,,
and eateri
"pig out." Many words have taken on permanent figurative meanings in addition to
their literal ones. You should know both the literal and figurative uses of the follow-
ing words:
caustic-biting, burning, stinging. The surface of the wood had been marred by
some coustic chemical. Her caustic comments hurt the other girl,sfeelings.
abrgsive-scraping or rubbing; annoyingly harsh or jarring. sandpaper- has
an
abrasive surface. The high-pitched whine of the machiniry was obiosive
to my
nerves. The adjective abrasive comes from the verb obrade, ..to scrape, wear
away by rubbing." Abrade is used only in the literal sense: sazdp aper abrades
wood.
volrtlle-tending to evaporate quickly, turning to vapor easily; very changeable or
fickle. A volatile liquid must be stored at low temperatures. A votatileiemper
is
quickly aroused and quickly soothed.
 Lesson 3/ 9

rabld-having rabies, violent, maddened; fanatically devoted to a belief or cause.

Bitten bi an infected squirrel, the dog turned rabid. The mon's rabid devoteq
looked on him as a holY ProPhet.
myopic-nearsighted; shortsighted. His myopic vision mode the dbtant lamps
' -appear o, irg" globes of colored light. Their 1ailure to make long'term plans
was myopic. The noun for "nearsightedness" is myopio'
insular-pert"ining to an island; narrow-minded or prejudiced as a result of cultural
isolation. hterto Rl'co is an insular commonweolth. She made the irsular
assumption thot people of other cultura were somehow wrongheaded
or mis'
led.
scabrous-rough to the touch, scabby; rough or impolite, especially concerning
sex,

improper. r,r e heat had made the varnish bubbb up, giving the desk a scabrous
,riftoi". The comedian's scobrous iokes made some members of the oudience
blush.
profound-very deep; intellectually or emotionally deep, thorough. They descended
profound
into a profound ond norrow rovine. socrates is our orchetyw or o
thinker.

phrase closest in mean-

EIER,1$ISE I Synonyms. Circle the letter of the word or
ing to the given word. The meaning may be literal or figurative.

l. abrasive: a) blatant b) grubby c) blithering d) grating

2. myopic: a) not looking ahead b) blind c) wearing glasses
d) unpredictable
3. scabrous: a) sprightly b) risqu6 c) cadaverous d) unhealthy
4. profound: a) irreligious b) circumspect c) deep d) submerged
5. caustic: a) dissatisfied b) burning c) scouring d) causal
6. insular: a) tropical b) of an island c) using insulin d) padded
7. rabid: a) raving b) racist c) vagrant d) irritated
8. volatile: a) piquant b) unstable c) rushed d) charming

EXEICISE II Circte the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. Myopia can be rectified by a) censorship b) corrective lenses
c) psychoanalysis d) travel
2. A volatile substance will a) remain solid at high temperatures b) be
viscous c) be inert d) quickly turn from liquid to gas
3. An insular territory is a) peninsular b) autonomous c) surrounded by
water d) uncivilized
4. A scabrous surface is characteristic of a) a wound b) the sea c) silk
d) felt
5. A rabid devotion is a) listless b) excessive c) estimable d) wary of
commitment
l0 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

6. Evidencc of abrasion by glaciers is found in a) underground springs

b) river deltas c) scratches on rocks d) prehistoric legendJ
7. An example of a caustic substance is a) pumice b) pewter c) rye
d) mineral water
8. A profound insight is not a) trivial b) of lasting importance c) a sign of
intclligence d) an intellectual act
9. Figurative language is not a) common in everyday speech b) proper
c) intelligible d) intended to be taken literally
10. A metaphor is a kind of a) falsehood b) implied comparison c) mistake
in grammar d) shortsightcd error

EIEffiISE lll rin in the blanks from the list of words below.
myopic caustic
rabid insular
abrasive volatile
profound scabrous
l. His flippant putdowns and cutting sarcasm gave him a reputation
for wit.
2. Foaming at the mouth, the animal had to be shot.
3. The proposal to build a new school is because it does not
take into account projected shifts in population over the next ten years.
4. Even her supporters admitted that she had a(n) personal-
ity; -her tactless and opinionated manner undoubtedly cost her some votes.
5。 with no firsthand experience of the worrd beyond their own village, they
were in their views and somewhat mistrustful of
outsiders.
6. His stories embarrassed acquaintances who weren,t
accustomed to ribald conversation.
7. The woman felt that her grief was too to be expressed in
words.
8. The patient's mood was extremely he was overjoyed
one moment and plunged into gloom the next. -
 4
LESSON
As we saw in Lesson3, words are frequently used in more than one way, but the
ways are usually related. Over centuriesof use, words have been stretchedto fit
looser or more figurative contexts.But while they are applied more looselyor more
figuratively, they may still retain their older meanings.You should be awareof the
rangeof meaningsfor the following words:
gall-to chafe, irritate the skin by rubbing; to annoy, vex, or hurniliate. The ill-fit-
ting saddle golled the horse's back. It gofied the children to hear the praise
Iavishedon their worthlessand obnoxious cousin.
espouse-to marry; to adopt as a cause,advocateor d€voteoneselfto a causeor be-
lief . Henry IzIII is often bestrememberedfor having espousedsix wivesandfor
hoving beheadedtwo of them. A hoptess ramantic, she loved to espouselost
couses.You can seethe relation of espouseto spouse.The figurative useis now
more commonthan the literal meaning"to marry."
lpprehend-to catchor catchon, to seizephysicallyor graspmentally. Police appre-
hended the suspect.I could not apprehend what he was trying to tell me, The
Latin verb prehendere, the source of our opprehcnd, was also used by the
Romans in the double senseof physical and mental grasping.The sameroot
gives us prehensile, "able to grasp," as the tail of a monkey, which wraps
around branches. The noun opprehensionmeans three things: l) a catch-
ing, 2) understanding, 3) fear or dread.
breach-a breaking, an openingor gap; a failure to keepthe terms of a promiseor
law. Troops poured in through a breach in thefortified wEll. Whenthey flailed
to deliver the goods, they wereguilty of o breach of contract, Breoch isn't from
Latin; it originatesfrom the sameOld Englishword that gaveus break.
provincirl-of a province,rustic, of the country; narrow-mindedor unsophisticated
in outlook. The moyor of the town wasengagedin a feud with the provincial
government An opposite of provincial used in one senseis urban and in
anothersensethe oppositeof provincial is
urbene-suave, smoothly well-mannered,and sophisticated. Theman's urbanecon-
uersation gave others the impression that he had traveled widety. Both urban
and,urbane come from the Latin root urbs, "city." It was traditionally as-
sumed that polished and sophisticatedmannerscould only be learned in the
city.
consonrnoe-a sounding together, harmony, agreement. Their aonsonanceof
opinion in oll matterc madefor a peoceful househotd. Sonare in Latin is "to
sound." Consononceliterally means "sounding with," but is usedmore gen-
erally to refer to any kind of harmoniousagreement.
confluence-a flowing together; a crowd or throng. Cairo, Illinots is located at the
confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. There wasa large co4fluence of
shoppers waiting for the store to oryn, Fluere in Latin means "to flow." The
sameroot givesus i4fluence, literally a "flowing in. "
il
12 / Essential Vocabulary for Coltege-Bound Students

mrelstrom-a whirlpool; a violently agitated, uncontrolled, and turbulent condition

or state. The ship was twisted in the maelstrom. Caught up in a maelstorm of
rage, he stntck out blindly. Maelstrom comes from an archaic Dutch name for
a whirlpool in the Arctic Ocean off the coast of Norway. Originally the name of
a specific whirlpool, it has been expanded to cover any whirlpool and, even
more loosely, any violently turbulent state.

EIERCISE I synonyms. Keeping in mind the range of meanings of each word,

circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in meaning to the given word.

l. consonance: a) identity b) lack of conflict c) reunion d) fluorescence

2. breach: a) antipathy b) atrophy c) gap d) banle
3. espouse: a) distort b) support as a cause c) sympathize d) bless
4. apprehend: a) make clear b) opt c) expose to view d) take into
custody
5. confluence: a) a crowding together b) a separating c) euphony
d) appreciation
6. provincial: a) genteel b) with a proviso c) sham d) unsophisticated
7. gall: a) rein in b) muzzle c) vex d) alter
8. maelstrom: a) violent confusion b) plague c) high velocity
d) aggression
9. urbane: a) obtuse b) abstruse in thought c) polished in manner
d) uncommunicative
10. espouse: a) wed b) eschew c) legalize d) court
ll. provincial: a) forested b) popular c) belonging to provinces
d) temporal

EIEACIS II rin in the blanks from the list of words below.

urbanity apprehension
confluence espousal
maelstrom consonance
breach
l. As the tornado brushed by the house, the peaceful home became a(n)
of flying objects and shattering glass.
2. Before the of the suspect, the whole community was rife
with fear。

3. The candidate's of strict pollution standards appealed to

voters who felt that the environment was being irrcparably damaged.
4. Failing to thank people properly for gifts is a(n) Of
etiquette.
5。 At the of the two rivers we partd company with the other
 Lesson 5 / 13

canoe and paddled up the smaller branch.

6. A person of such is not easily flustered by a sudden
change in Plans.
7. I felt sure, judging from the complete of their views, that
they would become fast friends.

EIERCISE III
Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
1. Apprehension can mean both understanding and a) aggravation b) fearful
foreboding c) penalty d) preparation
2. A breach of regulations is a kind of a) concordance b) reprimand
c) authorization d) disobedience
3. A provincial outlook usually results from a) lack of broad experience
b) too much education c) curiosity d) expensive tastes
4. Maelstrom literally refers to a) lightning b) a tornado c) a
whirlpool d) massive confusion

5. The opposite of gall is a) soothe b) enervate c) demur d) melt

6. In a confluence, people a) converge in a mass b) scatter c) babble
d) march in formation
7. According to its root meaning, urbane manners belong to a) ancient
peoplei b) young sophisticates c) cityfolk d) 6migr6s
8. In the older meaning of the word, a man espoused a) a cause b) a
wife c) a countrY d) PrinciPles
9. Consonance is achieved by a) monotony b) focusing a lens
c) dissension d) blending sounds pleasantly

LESSON 5

The words in this lesson are all nouns (names) for people's characters and feelings.
mettle-degree of spirit of courage, worth of character. She proved her mettle by
riskinj her lile to rescae her companions. The adjective mettlesome means
"high-spirited" or "fierY. "
contrition-sincere remorse, regret for one's actions. They were overwhelmed by
contrition when they reolized the damage they hod caused'
verrclty-truthfulness, itonoty. The author's verocity was called into question by
evidence thot some dotes had been changed'
14 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

acumen-sharpness of mind, keen mental perception. The businas acumen of many

early industrialists contributed to their success.
dlffldence-shyness, lack of assertiveness. His ddfidence belore such a distin-
guished visitor prevented himtrom expressing his own views.
fortltude-moral or emotional strength to endure hardship or misfortune. It takes
fortitude to do one's duty in the face of universal disapproval, From the Latin
/orrrb (strong\, fortitude is closely related to fortify (make strong), rort (a
stronghold), andforte (a strong point).
hypocrisy-acting in contradiction to what one professes, feigning to be what one is
not, playing a part in order to deceive. It is sheer hypocrisyfor you to condemn
her for remaining silent when that is emctly what you would hove done under
lhe same circumslances.
lassitude-feeling of weariness, languor. The heat created a lassitude among the
tourists thot caused them to postpone sightseeing
pctulsnce-petty fretfulness. Petulonce is her most annoying trait: she tends to
whine and sulk when things go wrong.
sobrlety-soberness, trait of being moderate (especially in the use of alcohol), or
sedate and serious in one's conduct. The Puritans placed high value on qualities
such as sobriety and industriousness, qualities essential to their survivol in the
New llorld.
temerlty-foolish audacity, recklessness, rashness. After the leacher's lecture on
paying attention, only John had the temerity to ask him once ogain to rcpeat
the assignment.

EXER0ISE I Antonyms. circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
l. lassitude: a) reprimand b) intense vigor c) strong preference
d) emotional equilibrium
2. contrition: a) sorrow b) wearing away c) lack of compunction d) guilt
by association
3. diffidence: a) bold setf-assurance b) similitude c) secretive manner
d) knowledge
4. hypocrisy: a) humaneness b) consistency of word and deed c) depravity
i d) resistance to reform
5. fortitude: a) spinelessness in the face of adversity b) love of conflict
c) ingenuousness d) betrayal to an enemy
6. sobriety: a) selfdenial b) laziness c) drunken abandon d) self-reliance
7. mettle: a) stupidity b) weak character c) clairvoyance d) flamboyance
E. acumen: a) inebriation b) iptellectual inadequacy c) sincerity d) poor
manners
9. temerity: a) daring b) subtlety c) awesomeness d) timidity
10. petulance: a) impudence b) patient attitude c) prostration d) craven
conduct
I l. veracity: a) dishonesty b) efficiency c) small appetite d) false modesty
 Lesson5 / 15

EIDffiISE II Choore the best word to complete each sentence. Write it in the
blank.

l. The editorial accused the mayor of in knowingly Promis-

ing improvements that he will not be able to deliver'
sobriety lassitude
hYPocrisY acumen

2. One expects such from children, who do not have the

maturity to clpe easily with disappointments.
Petulance fortitude
mettle contrition

3. The doctor's fine in psychological matters makes him a

good judge of when people are lying.
veracitY acumen
temeritY mettle

4. The patient complained of abnormal and loss of appetite.

lassitude diffidence
fortitude sobrietY

5. Only a fool would have the to insult a short-temPered

gunslinger.
diffidence mettle
temeritY hypocrisY

6. The thoroughbred had the appearance of a born

champion.
hypocritical mettlesome
diffident Petulant

7. Her conservative clothes, measured speech, and Calm face give an impression
of complete
petulance temeritY
sobriety contrition

8. If he's always told usj:iyr" before, whv should we doubt his

sobriety hypocrisy
contrition veracitY

9. The sailors endured the poor rations and cramped quarters with patient
temerity acumen
lassitude fortitude

10。 makes an individual defer to the opinions of others.

Veracity Diffidence
Acurnen Fortitude

ll. The student exPressed her in a formal note of apology.

contrition veracitY
lassitude Petulance
l6 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EI|EBGISE III F om memory, try to complete the following sentences with

words from this lesson. The first letter of each answer is given before the blank.
Write your answers in the blanks.
l. She has the [a] to tell when a client is really ready to make
a purchase.
2. The child felt such [cl for breaking her sister's doll that
she offered to buy her another one just like it.
3. Although she is very interesred in the subject, her [d]
keeps her from participating in the class discussion.

4. The Biblical Job, who undergoes every kind of misfortune, exemptifies

tfl _.
People who publicly condemn conduct they themselves indurge in privately
are guilty of [hl

6. The exhausting ordeal left the travelers with a feeling of

; it took several days for them to recoup their energy.
7. A natural disaster tests rhe [m] of everyone caught up in
it.
8. He reacted with spiteful [p blaming the others for their
mutual predicament and refusing to lift a finger to help himself.
9. I had expected a famous and venerable historian to be a model of
[s] instead he was a tipsy gentleman with a whimsical
sense of humor.
10. The boss was annoyed that his secretary had the [t]
interrupt him when he had ordered that he not be disturbed.
ryI is an essential attribute of a good journalist; he or she
has an obligation to report events accurately.
-;

LESSON 6

The following are ten nouns for naming people.

stvsnt-a wise and learned person, scholar of exceptional knowledge or wisdom.
The professor was a sovant of psychological research who enjoyed an interna-
tional reputotion for brillionce.
pedant-a person who makes a needless display of learning or who is preoccupied
with trivial points of scholarship. The lecturer wos a pedont who made several
allusions to literary works with which his oudience wos unfamiliar. Both a
savant and a pedanf are people of learning. Savant, however, is a positive term,
 Lesson 6 / 17

often connoting wisdom along with exceptional knowledge. Apedant, on the

other hand, lacks judgment or a sense of proportion about expressing or apply-
ing his learning.
connoisseur-a person with special knowledge or judgment in some matter of taste
or the arts. A connoisseur of wines hos o cultivated ond dbcriminating polate.
Although we borrowed it from French, connoisseur goes back to the Latin
cognoscere, "to know." Like the previous entries, connoisseur connotes a kind
of knowledge, but a knowledge of aesthetic or sensual experiences rather than
of scholarly mattersi
martinet-a rigid and petty disciplinarian. The captain was o mortinet who consid-
ered an unpolished button an example of criminal negligence.
novlce-a person new to a jOb Or activity, someone inexperienced. A novice in the
job, she needed more time than an experienced worker to complete the same
tasks.
curmudgeon-a churlish, grumpy, unfriendly person. The old curmudgeon was so
difficutt to get along with thot no one could stand to workfor him.
incumbent-a person holding public office or church office. The young vicar was
given the benefice when the incumbent retired.
skeptic-a person who doubts, especially one who questions or suspends judgment
on beliefs commonly accepted. A skeptic will not be convinced without sub-
stantial evidence. Also spelled sceptic.
misogynist-woman-hater, usually a man. Although he corresponded olfectionotely
with a lody he oddressed as Stella, Jonathan Swift was in general a misogtnist.
vixcn-shrewish, mean, bad-tempered woman. He spent evenings in the pub com-
ploining about his vixen of o wW. A vixen is literally a female fox. Used figura-
tively of a woman, it i's similar in meaning to shrew, another animal term. [t is
slightly more polite thanbitch, which literally means a "female dog."

EIEIIISE I Antonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
l. martinet: a) puppet b) indecisive person c) fastidious eater d) someone
careless about procedure

2. novice: a) veteran b) layman c) elderly person d) candidate

3. pedant: a) kind person b) one who conceals his learning
c) self-sacrificing person d) slob
4. vixen: a) knowledgeable person b) mousy girl c) stupid woman
d) uglyperson
5. skeptic: a) serious thinker b) trustworthy individual c) loyal friend
d) credulous person
5. savant: a) ignoramus b) specialist c) scholar d) stickler for discipline
7. misogynist: a) gregarious person b) philosopher c) lover of
women d) lover of animals
8. incumbent: a) nonprofessional b) competent worker c) elected official
d) petson not presentlY in office
9. curmudgeon: a) amiable person b) loud talker c) person easily
deceived d) sane person
It / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

10. connoisseur: a) person of learning b) native citizcn c) spoctator

d) person with unsophisticated tastes

EIEMIS II rin in the blanks from the list of words below.

savant misogynist
skeptic martinet
vixen novice
connoisseur pedant
curmudgeon incumbent
1.The although his name is likely to be more familiar than
his opponent's, has the disadvantagc of being blamed for whatever is
wrong.
2. In the old-fashioned stereotype, a schoolmaster is a(n)
who insists that pupils be in the classroom precisely on time, seated at
their desks with their hands folded.
3. As a(n) of the ballet, he never failed to attend the local
premiere of a new work.
4. The book is the work of a(n) encyclopedic in its
-both
erudition and strikingly original in its approach.
5. The had no friends and showed no desire to make any.
6.She was always critical of her spouse and
scornful of her neighbors.
7. At the time we thought she was just a(n) but later we
were glad that we had been forced to learn alt those trivial dates and
obscure facts.
8. Since he is only a(n) at skiing, this slope may be
hazardous for him.
9. A(n) is happiest whcn he can avoid femalc company.
10. Doubting Thomas was the among the followers of Jesus.

EIEAIISts III circte the letter of the best choice to complac each scntence.
l. A motto for skeptics is a) Show me b) Excelsior c) Live free or
die d) Don't look back
2. When you ask a question, a pcdant will give you a) an equivocal
answer b) a blank stare c) a succinct response d) more information
than you need
3. A misogynist a) is usually a woman b) shouldn't mary c) is thoroughly
professional d) is an accomplished cook
4. A curmudgeon will probably not bc a) hospiuble b) hostile
c) recalcitrant d) peevish
 Lesson 7 /19
5. A savant is generally a) unpredictable b) a charlatan c) under a doctor's
care d) highly cducated
6. is a) flattering b) voracious
As a term for a woman, vixen
c) derogatory d) inconsequential
7. A student who is a novice at college life is probably a) on the Dean's
List b) a graduating senior c) a freshman d) very active in clubs
8. Wh.en her tcrm expires, the incumbent will a) be paroled b) retire from
the stage c) renew the loan d) run for higher office
9. A martinet is offendcd by a) punctilious decorum b) minor
infractions c) injustiec d) demonstrations of affection
10. A connoisseur of painting probably a) visits museums b) paints
c) despises Imprcssionism d) knows nothing about perspective

Most unflatteting names-like slob or martinet-can be applied to people of

either sex. But English also has a large vocabulary of derogatory terms used solely to
describe women. Check your dictionary for the definitions of:
slattern
slut
harridan
virago
hoyden
termagant
This misogynistic list reveals a lot about sexual politics in traditional English cul-
ture. All the above terms were invented to censure the many women who over the
centuries have failed to display the supposedly feminine virtues of docility and good
housekeeping. There are no equivalent terms used solely for men: men have never
been particularly blamed for being bold, sloppy, scolding, quarrelsome, or noisy.

LESSON 7

The dozen adjectives below can all be used to describe people.

effuslve-overflowing with emotion, expressing feeling to excess. The new attendant
concealed her nervousness behind on effusive friendlinqs.
dlsprssionrte-detached, objective, free of strong feelings or bias. When his resent'
ment sttbsided, he wu obb to toke a more dispossionate view ond reolize that
he too was otfoult.
contunrclous-refusing to obey, obstinately resistant to authority. The tulor
daspired of ever contolling his spoiled, contumocious pupils'
20 / Essential V∝ abulary for Conege_Bound Students

beleaguered-under seige, surrounded, beset by hostile people or forces. During the

delay, the beleoguered railroad conductor wos bombarded with questions and
complaints from t he irote passengers.
rvuncular-like an uncle, in the relationship of an uncle. He was moved by avun-
cular concern to offer his nephew advice.
lmpecunbur-poor, without money, especially as a permanent condition. /n Tess
of the D'urbervilles, the Durbeyfields are an impecunious family of many
children and precarious income.
tubilant-very happy, joyful in a triumphant or excited way. The jubilont populace
took to the streets to celebrate the revolution.
fscetious-not serious, amusing, joking at an inappropriate lime. we were too upset
by the results to be entertoined by Claire's focetious commentary on the elec-
tion.
corpulent-fat, fleshy, obese. constant indulgence in rich loods had made him
corpulent,
splenetic-fretfully spiteful, peevish. The heat, the cranky children, the pressure of
a heavy workload-all conffibuted to the woman's splenetic outburst. Splenetic
is related to spleen; it was once thought that anger originated in the spleen, just
as the heart was the seat of love.
pcnslve-thoughtful, especially in a sad or moody way. sfte was quiet ond pensive
all afternoon, thinking obout the old days and her late husband.
indolent-lazy, tending to avoid work or activity. An indolent student wil often
learn just enough to get by.

EIERGISE I Synonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.

l. dispassionate inactive by choice

2. beleaguered lost in thought
3. impecunious penniless
4. facetious besieged
5. splenetic unemotional
6. indolent overjoyed
7. corpulent disobedient
8. effusive very overweight
9. pensive peevish
10. contumacious joking
ll. jubilant like an uncle
12. avuncular too demonstrative

EXEBGISE II rm in the blanks from the list of words below.

pensive effusive
corpulent avuncular
beleaguered dispassionate
contumacious
iliillli.
facetious impecunious
 Lesson 7 / 21

l. In later years the great actor lost his trim figure and became quite

2. He worked hard, but his work paid little; he was a(n)

man, always in debt.
3. Though by the pranks and derision of his classmates, the
boy persisted in his eccentric behavior.
4. A(n) crowd thronged the avenue to welcome home the
victorious team.
5. Pleasedon't take my remarks seriously; I was only joking
to cheer you uP.
6. Since we hardly knew them, we were somewhat embarrassed by their
greeting; they treated us like longJost brothers.

7. At one sideof the canvas stood a(n) figure, seeming lost

in thought amid the bustle of the carnival.
8. I like to stay active even during vacations; a workaholic cannot bear to be

9. Although he never wished for children of his own, he had a(n)

fondness for his sister's brood.

10. By putting aside her own personal stake in the outcome, Jane made a(n)
appraisal of the case.
ll. Grumpy with exhaustion and disappointment, he lashed out at his friend
with recriminations.

12. This horse is a(n) animal that delights in doing the very
opposite of what You ask.

EIEIIf,ISE III Antot yms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
l. pensive: a) unreflecting b) hale c) affable d) idiotic
2. jubilant: a) slavish b) suicidal c) obsequious d) jocund
3. splenetic: a) cheerful b) distraught c) orderly d) vicious
4. indolent: a) respectful b) well-off c) energetic d) well-rested
5. effusive: a) immoderate b) recessive c) fragile d) reserved
6. avuncular: a) like a relative b) oracular c) like a stranger d) geriatric
7. facetious: a) bantering b) insistent c) politically sound d) unnecessarily
solemn

8. contumacious: a) sneering b) pliant c) pleasurable d) laughing

9. dispassionate: a) passive b) highly emotional c) revivified
d) compassionate
10. corpulent: a) emaciated b) spiritual c) spirited d) healthy
22 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

ll. beleaguered: a) independent b) disconnected c) frce from attack

d) protected from competition
12. impecunious: a) wealthy b) subservient c) not fussy d) not curious

EIEffiISE lll circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. A not a) use emotionally loaded terms b) pull
dispassionate account does
punches c) give the facts d) concern matters of importance
2. Herjubilant face told me that she had a) lost her keys b) lost her temper
c) won a victory d) run a race
3. A splenetic person is frequently a) ill b) dispassionate c) penitential
d) discontent
4. He is somewhat older than I, but his avuncular manner a) is infantile
b) makes him seern younger c) makes him less outgoing
d) exaggerates thc difference

5. As a teenager she was much too indolent to a) go without makeup

b) cave in to parental demands c) play tennis d) talk on the
phone for hours
6. An indolent life and a passion for desserts can lead to a) effusiveness
b) corpulence c) facetiousness d) contumely
7. A beleaguered person feels a) hemmed in b) demanding c) compulsive
d) unconstraincd
8. A worker can be impecunious because he does not know how to a) make
friends b) let off steam c) budget his finances d) run an office
9. A contumacious individual resists a) improvement b) dieting
c) authority d) fighting
10. In a pensive mood, one a) fritters b) ponders c) gibbers d) chatters
ll. People often become more effusive when they drink because they are
a) more likely to take offense b) accident-prone c) more sensual
d) less inhibited about their feelings
12. Facetious talk is intended to a) wound b) play for time c) amuse d) be
profound
 LESSON 8

Here are twelve more adjectives, words that describe or limit nouns.
ephemerrl-shortlived, passing quickly. As an odolescent he had an intense but
ephemeral pssionlor collecting postcords. Ephemeral is derived from a Greek
word meaning "for a day." An ephemerid is a May fly, an insect whose adult
life lasts only a day.
fersible-able to be performed or executed by human means or agency' practicable.
It bfeasible to complete the proiect by July.
germane-pertinent, on the subject at hand. ThefoctS were not gemane lo the orgu'
ment.
impeccable-faultless, perfect. Successful comedl derynds on impeccoble timing.
moribund-dying. The moribund tree put out fewer ond fewer leaves each spring.
putrtlve-supposed rather than known, reputed. His putotive weollh was exog-
gerated by his ostentotion.
speclous-deceptively plausible, only seeming to be good or correct. He defended
his opinion with srycious orguments thot could be rcfuted by onyone Iamiliar
with thefacts.
lnhercnt-inborn, existing as a basic or natural characteristic' not learned or ac-
quired. A love of hunting is inherent in cats.
obligetory-required, binding morally or legally, having the nature of an obligation.
Heleels nothing in common with hisfamily, yet he makes an obligotory visit lo
them once or twice a Yeor.
superfluous-extra, beyond what is necessary. It wos clear from the group's bore'
dom that his lengthy explanotions were superfluons. The Latin prefix and stem
super fluere literally mean "over flow." The fluere stem also giva us fluent
(flowing),/uid (something that flows), and
melllfluous-[iterally, honey-flowing) very sweet and smooth, honied. Her bestfea'
ture as an actess is her mellifluous speoking voice. Mellifluoto is always used
to describe things swoet to the cars, not to the tastebuds.
rccumbent-lying down, rcsting. The painting depicted the goddess rscumbent on a
sumptuous couch, ottended by her son Cupid-

Etm[ISE I Antonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
l. moribund: a) seasonal b) btrdding c) decaytng d) evergreen
2. obligatory: a) fast-paced b) irtsufferable c) disinterested d) optional
3. impeccable: a) marred b) contrary c) lined d) sinful
り
う，
ι
U / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

4. feasible: a) effortless b) impossible to effect c) predictable

d) momentous
5. recumbent: a) out of office b) not required c) standing at the ready
d) causing panic
6. superfluous: a) repressed b) essential c) inordinate d) dammed up
7. specious: a) valid b) remarkable c) humorous d) biological
8. inherent: a) acquired b) insufficient c) creative d) genetic
9. ephemeral: a) real b) prized c) durable d) artificial
10. germane: a) ancestral b) irresponsible c) insipid d) irrelevant
ll. mellifluous: a) bittersweet b) rasping c) acoustic d) sour-tasting
12. putative: a) salacious b) hypothetical c) known with certainty
d) concealed from view

EIEBCISE II riU in the btanks from the list of words betow.

superfluous ephemeral
germane moribund
putative specious
mellifluous impeccable
feasible inherent
recumbent obligatory
l. The topic was well-defined and the writing The instructor
found nothing to criticize in the essay.
2. In the 1930s Hollywood's Hayes office imposed industry-sponsored censor-
ship on American films. It became for good guys to
win and bad guys to be punished.
3. The concerto is a lush, romantic work ideally suited to the
tones of the violin.
4. He spent two hours of the afternoon on the living-r6om
sofa with a book in his hand, fast asleep.
5. The fame of personalities in the news is ; in a few years, or
sometimes weeks, most of them are forgotten.

6. The junta's motive in holding elections was to encourage

political participation, but some observers believed the junta was merely
trying to ferret out the opposition.
7. Since funds have been cut drastically, the program is
Without renewed support it will undoubtedly cease operation by the end
of the year.
8. Artful makeup and indirect lighting gave the ailing celebrity a(n)
appearance of health.
9. Since we need only three yards for the costume, the rest of this material
 Lessont / 25

10. Mandy had taken a lot of notes on revivalism in America but not all the in-
formation was to the more limited scope of her paper.
ll. Defining social goals is not enough; we must come up with
plans for realizing them.
12. All healthy human infants seem to have a(n) aptitude for
learning any language they are exposed to.

EXEfiIISE III Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. A mellifluous sound is tYPical of
a) bees b) freight trains c) tympani d) accomplished flutists
2. is an inherent trait of some individuals.
a) Ignorance b) Soccer-playing c) Brown hair d) Criminal behavior
3. When making a pie, the cook the superfluous crust.
a) kneads b) rolls out c) trims off d) brushes with butter

4. A recumbent figure usually does not look

a) overweight b) anxious c) relaxed d) sensual

5. A moribund love is
a) fading away b) clinging to hope c) eternal d) star+rossed
6. To be impeccable in appearance, a person must choose clothes

a) for the beach b) with special care c) instinctively d) according to

the price tags
7. A germane contribution to a debate is one that
a) changes the subject b) confuses the opposing side c) addresses the
issue d) uses unfair tactics
8。 lf I something, it becomes obligatorY.
a) say I might do b) promise to do c) dread d) prophesy
9. If an agreement is merely putative, it is
a) only a rumor b) likely to be published in full c) legally binding
d) temporary
10. If a person's schedule is not feasible, he or she is
a) difficult to contact b) likely to be a success c) able to relax d) liable
frequently to be late
I l. An ephemeral sadness
a) is gone momentarily b) leaves deep scars c) is only pretended
d) indicates a melancholy streak

12. Specious reasoning does not

a) convince anyone b) sound plausible c) stand up to analysis d) stick
to the subject
 LESSON 9

The words in this lesson and the next are verbs, words that show action.
dcHlllrtc-enfeeble, weaken. Constont excesses will debititate even the strongest
constilution.
lmpcech-challenge one's honesty or reputation, call before a tribunal on a charge
of wrongdoing. President Nixon resigned before he coutd be impeoched by the
knatefor high crimes and misdemeanors.
rbele-lessen in intensity or amount, diminish. After an hour or two the slorm
abated and the sky began to clear.
nulllfy-make void or without effect. The new contract nuttifies all previous ogree-
ments between the two porties.
Jeltison-cast overboard. They had to jettison the corgo to lighten the plane. Jet-
tison comes from the Latin verbTbctate, "to throw." originally, cargo was jet-
tisoned in order to lighten a ship in an emergency. By extension,yel tbon can
mean to throw away any kind of dead weight or useless burden.
exrccrbrte-make worse, aggravate. A generous pottion of french fries is sure to
exocerbate an upset stomach.
procnstlnete-delay doing something, put off without reason. since you,ll have to
get it done eventuolly, you might as well stop procrostinoting ond get started.
mltlgaie-lessen, make milder, less severe, or less serious. The fact that they were
not atlaultfor the occident did not mitigate their grief over it.
rccrpltulate-relate in brief, summarize, repeat in a condensed version. In five
minutes he recapitulated the complex plot of Hitchcock's spellbound.
construe-interpret, analyze. His ottitude was construed as one of opposition lo the
proposal, although he claimed to have no opinion.
berrte-scold vehemently, rebuke harshly and at length. The teacher who brotes his
closs is rotionoliTing his own shortcomings.
obllterrte-demolish, destroy all trace of. The building had been obliteroted; we
could not even be we emctly where it had stood.

EIEAGISE I synonyms. circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in mean-
ing to the given word.
l. jettison: a) preserve b) float c) fly d) dump
2. debilitate: a) take strength away from b) reiterate c) make louder
d) take for granted
} rccapitulate: a) instigate b) repeat in full c) summarize d) execute
4. mitigate: a) improve b) radicalize c) soften d) make drowsy

26
 Lcsson 9 / n
5. abate: a) payback b) growmild c) dcactivate Q agrcewith
6. procrastinate: a) conforur b) be optimistic c) predict the future
d) postponc action
7. construe: a) consume b) translate c) strain d) interpret
8. exacerbate: a) worscn b) overstate c) clear up d) endurc
9. nullify: a) soothc b) minimize c) make ineffective d) rcstrict
10. berate: a) chastise verbally b) argue convincingly c) insist strongly
d) address

ll. obliterate: a) put off b) wipe out utterly c) dismantle d) forget

12. impeach: a) rcpcal b) vote against c) formally acsuse d) convict in the
Senate

EffiIIS lI Ctoote rhe best word to complete each sentence. Write it in the
blank.
l. The effet of the sleeping pill was by three cups of coffee.
exacerbated nuuined
rccapitulated construed

2. There rr',ere gaps in the manuscript where the writing had been
by rot and water damage.
procrastinatcd ,CttiSOned
debilitatcd obuterated

3. In a dcspcrate sttempt to kccp the tiny craft afloat, thc survivors

all nonessential items.
abated nullirled
ieCtiSOned obuterated

4. The defendant's youth and unbalanccd mental state were considered to

thc scriousness of his crime.
mitigate nullify
impeach exacerbate

5. The man is a complete mystcry to me: I don't know how to

anything he says and I can never tell if he'sjoking.
Ettpitulate mitigate
construe obliterate

6. As volcanic activity ,re∝ ue workers werl able to move

into the area.
obliterated abated
procrrstinated bcratcd

7.P∞ ple oFten out of anxiay. Thcy put off doing a task
because they don't havc confidcnce that it will turn out well.
prOcstinate jatison
impeach construe
?A / Bssential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

t. Wc found the hot wcather so that we collapsed after lunch

and staycd in our hammocks thc rest of the day.
bcrating mitigating
recapitulating debilitating
9. Thc Sccretary of State's rash public pronouncements only
a tense and delicate international situation.
abated procrastinated
jettisoned exacerbated

10. The children had learned to tune out their older sister, who
them endlessly over trivial and unavoidable
mishaps.
construed abated
berated debilitated
ll. A(n) is not a conviction, but a formal accusation brought
against someone in public office.
mitigation impeachment
oblitcration nullification
12. Although shc could not remember eyerything that was said, the student was
able to the highlights.
impcach berate
exacerbate recapitulate

EIEAIISB III From memory, try ro complete the folowing sentences wirh
words from this lesson. The first lctter of each answer is given before the blank.
Write your answers in the blanks.
l. Thanks to the medicine, the fever [a] and the patient was
able to slcep peacefully.
2. Bccause they were three hours late and hadn't bothered to call, I lost my
temper and [bl them for their rudeness,
3. The defense claimed the money was a legitimate campaign contribution, but
the jury lcI it as a bribe.

4. The desertion of so many soldiers was [dl to morale.

5. The rash is [el by scratching; the more you scratch, the
worse it will ga
6. The senator *", til by the grand jury on charges of
influence-peddling.
7. To lighten their packs, the hikers [] the cooking
equipment and the tent.
8. Jim's regret when his companions left was [ml by his
pleasure at having the cabin all to himself again.

9. Hcr clumsy play in the opening round [n] whatever

psychological advantage she may have had.
 Lcsson l0 /29
The space station had bcen [o] Not even debris
remained.
11. Fay has been [pl on the research paper for a month and
now has only a week to get it written.
12. Atthc end of the class, the professor quickly [rt for us
the political events of the decade.

Ⅲ SSON 10

rcscind-formally cancet or take back. They rescinded their offer of oid when they
became disillusioned with the proiect.
metrlculrte-enroll, espe,cially as a candidate for a degree in a college or university.
Bruce will matticalote in an associote degree p?ogrom ot the college in Septem-
ber,
bcquerth-leave as a legacy or inheritance. The woman bequeathed her hotue to her
only daughter. Something bequeathed is called abequest'
lnpute-attribute, ascribe, charge with. The difficulties were imputed to his
negligence. The things imputed are usually negative' such as faults, crimes, or
misfortunes.
perrmbulrte-walk about, stroll, especially for the purpose of observing or inspect-
ing. They perombuloted the borders of the property to check that the gata were
secure.
enunclete-pronounce clearly. He could not enunciote certain sounds becouse of a
speech impediment.
prcvericrte-mislead, lie. He prevoricated when he said he hadn't been to the
movia: he hod gone tlnre but then had left almost immediately. Like equivo-
cate (s* Lesson 2), prevoricote usually does not mean to lie outright but rather
to mislead, to bend or evade the truth. Its root in Latin means literally "to walk
crookedly."
lmpugn-cast doubt on someone's motives or truthfulness. Do not impugn his testi'
mony unless you can substanliote your charges.
rcgele-entertain, delight or refresh with something pleasing. Ourfriends regaled us
with funny stories of their adventures.
extricrte-free from an entanglement. Calefulty removing eoch prickly bronch, she
extricated herself from the brian.
30 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EXERGISE I choose the best word to complete each sentence. write it in the
blank.
l. Not blaming the little girl herself, we her rudeness and
rowdy behavior to parental neglect.
bequeathed regaled
imputed impugned

2. The story vera told was true for the most part, but the detective suspected
she was to conceal some evidence.
prevaricating perambulating
enunciating matriculating
3. The physician felt that the anxious patient was somehow
his competence or judgrnent by raising so many
questions.
impugning regaling
imputing perambulating

4. That provision of the law was by a later act of the legis-

lature and so it is no longer in effect.
impugned extricated
regaled rescinded
5. The regulations as published in the catalogue stipulate that no student
unless he or she has been formally acceptd into a
degree program.
prevaricate matriculate
enunciate extricate
5. Although he was no longer in love, the young man had become so deeply in-
volved with the woman that he saw no way of himself
gracefully from the relationship.
perambulating prevaricating
matriculating extricating
7. The last will and testament left numerous small of money
and memorabilia to employees and friends.
prevarications rescindings
imputations bequests
We dropped in for an hour at our neighbors', where we
were with chocolate mousse and pleasant conversation.
rescinded enunciated
regaled extricated
9. The best way to become acquainted with the soul of a city is to spend a few
days its various neighborhoods.
perambulating rescinding
impugning bequeathing
10. Some sounds are naturally more difficult to than others;
in every language the baby word for mother is a vesy easy combination.
matriculate enunciate
impute bequeath
 Lcsson l0 / 3l

f,fmfiN$ts lI Circtc the lcttcr of the best choicc to complete each sentencc.

l. Onc extricatcs oncsclf from a) a positive outlook b) a long

walk c) pleasant pastimc d) a sticky situation
2. One way to impugn a pcrson's obicctivity is to a) suggcst she is blinded by
sclf-intcrest b) .all her fair-minded c) recalt the past d) commend her
motives
3. After a day of perambulating, a person is likely to have a) tired eyes b) a
hoarse throat c) sore fcet d) little appetite
4. Exccllent enunciation is of thc utmost importance to a) actors
b) novelists c) private investors d) professional models
5. Toimputeamistaketosomeoneisto a) condoneit b) assign
responsibility for it c) invite a repetition of it d) cover up thc truth
6. \[hen you are regalcd by the sompany you are with' a) you wish you were
somlwhere clsi b) accidents are rife c) time passes quickly d) a spat
is likely
7. People generally bequeath their possessions a) at tag sales b) to make
money c) to avoid taxes d) to their relatives

8. A person who matriculates becomes a) a liar b) a graduate c) a

student d) an emPloyee of a college
9. A prevarication is usually a) an animated tale b) a partial fdsehood
c) deleted d) translucent
10. A promise that has been rescinded has been a) withdrawn b) confided
c) sabotagcd d) reaffirmed

HCffiEE lll Antonyms. Ehaw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase most nearly its oPPosite,

l. prevaricate bocome enmeshed

2. bequeath be sedentary
3. enunciate praise
4. rescind promulgate
5. impugn slur one's words
6. regnle bore
7. perambulate kecp as one's own
t. extricate stick to the truth

Pemmbulate derives from the Latin rootsper (through) andombulore

(to walk)'
you can fix it in your mind by associating it with the more familiar amble, another
Engtish verb from the samc root. Latin ambulare also gave rise to the French hdpital
o^lbrbnf (moving or "walking" hospital), which in turn hame oy1r ombulance.
Chock your dictionary for thc dcfinitions of these additional descendents of am'
bularc:
ambulatory
funambulist
somnambulist
 ' ., t.,

32 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EIEBCISE IV Circte the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.

l. One is likely to see a funambulist a) at night b) in a circus c) in the

countryside d) in a hospital
2. A patient who is bedridden a) is not ambulatory b) needs an
ambulance c) is a somnambulist d) ambles about the hospital
3. A somnambulist suffers from a form of a) pneumonia
b) dizziness c) sleep disturbance d) intense lethargy
4. One can impugn a man's veracity by calling him a) a funambulist b) a
perambulator c) an extricator d) a prevaricator
5. To enunciate a word is to a) swallow it b) deny its truth c) say it
distinctly d) bequeath it
6. A funambulist needs a) a superb sense of balance b) legal counsel c) a
sedative d) to be regaled
 REVIEW TEST I

l. That which is past b gone, and irrevocable; ond wise men hove enough to
do with things present and to come' ' ' '
Bacon
-Francis
Bacon states that the past a) is not remembered b) cannot be called back
c) was better than the present d) is without blemish

2. The nature of the wounds upon her own W6on entirely precludes the
ideo of self-des t ruc t ion.

According to this sentence, suicide in this case is a) germane ;''r:;:^'::*"

c) the coroner's verdict d) an impossibility

3. I
They said nothing unkind . . . but in a week or two was my old pro'
crastinating idte self and hod soon left the class altogether.
Butler Yeats
-William
of a) postponing
Yeats accuses himself worthwhile actions b) disobedience
c) lying d) frivolitY

4. she sought to be eloquent in her garments, and to make up for her dwi'
dence ofspeech by afinefrankness ofcostume.
James
-Henry
Thecharacterdescribedis a) vociferous b) urbane c) noteffusiveinspeech
d) a vixen

Questions 5 and 6
Yet, for att fortilude, there were certain quolities
his hardy sobriety and
in him which ot times affected, ond in some coses seemed well nigh to
overbalonce the rest.

5. Themandescribedisusually a) rondof companv ul orr,."TiI'::::t'-

c) a curmudgeon d) eager to be liked

6. Fortitude is a) sharpness of mind b) soberness c) reckless courage

d) strength to endure

7. Kant, who had been educated in the rationalist tradition, wos much per-
turbed by Hume's scepticism, and endeovored tofind an answer to it.
Bertrand Russell

33
34 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

Hume represents a a) breach of faith b) lack of seriousness c) position of

radical doubt d) tradition of belief

t. He enunciated dbtinctly, with soft precbion.

Conrad
-loseph
The character in question a) pronounced words clearly b) argued rationally
c) sang softly d) whistled
9. Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities onty.
David Thoreau
-Henry
Superfluous means a) inadequate b) beyond what is necessary c) bequeathed
rather than earned d) deceptive in appearance

10. I thought it prudent not to exocerbate the growing moodiness of his tem-
per by any comment.
Allan Poe
-Edgor
To exacerbate moodiness is to a) make it worse b) soothe it c) ignore it
d) impute it to some cause

I l. The leost relaxation of his vigilance, the smallest ofutement of his

strength' ' ' put him in jeopardy
JamesG. Frazer
An abatement is a) an obliteration b) a diminishing c) a maturing
d) a repelling

12. The English ear has been occustomed to the mellifluence of pope's num-
bers.

According to Johnson, pope's verse a) gans the Engrish ear ,;:#:":hnson

c) flows sweetly d) is evocative

13. To assert myself thtu traduced is not vanity or arrogance. It is o demand

oriustice" "
Burke
-Edmund
Here Burke implies that his character has been a) impugned b) rescinded
c) regalcd d) construed

14. Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her ap
plication, it had given her likewise a pedontic and conceited manner,
which would have i4jured a higher degrce oJ ucellence than she had
reached.
Austen
-Jane
Mary tends to a) be dispassionate b) primp and preen c) lack self+onfidence
d) bore people with her accomplishments

Questions 15 and 16
There is now your insulor city oJ the Manhottoa, belted round by
 Review Test I /35
wharvq as Indion istu by coral reeJs-commerce sarrounds it wilh her
sutf.
期 ν:::c
ar″ E■ J物 た′

15. Melville refcrs to the fact that a) Manhattan is only part of a larger city
b) Manhattan is an island c) New York is beleaguered d) New Yorkers
are provincial

a a) literal description
16. With the word as, Melville introduces
b) recapitulation c) simile d) nullification

Even at the age oJ twenty-seven Attstin sloper had mode his mark
suffi-
17, o dozen
ciently to mit'i*ate the onomaly of his hoving been chosen among
siton b! a young womon of hiehfashion''''
James
-Henry
anomaly'
Ananomalyis something unusual or difficult to explain. To mitigate the
or strangeness, oisomething is to a) make it appear more usual
b) espouse it c) explain it d) make it even stranger

lg. Such unaccountoble masses of

shodes and shodows, at first you al-
-thot
ii, iiouent some ambitiorts young ortist . . . had endea;vod to de-
lineatechaosbewitched' Merviile
-Herman
Delineotehere means a) overcome b) evoke c) sketch the form of
d) aPPrehand
 ‖ SSON ll

The Latingenres is a broad term meaning "kind, type, birth, origin, family,
race.,, It
comes from a much older root, a prehistoric Indo-Europe"n *oid meaning ..to pro-
duce, beget. " Genus has been borrowed unchanged into English; if you
have stuaiea
biology, you will recall that it means ,.t1ry,6" or ..kind." But grn* has been bor-
rowed more than once. It appears in English in a variety of disguises, such
as:
generlc-pertaining to a race or kind. Cotorbtindness rs a
seneric choracteristic of
some animals. Generic is the adjective form of genus.
engender-to produce, cause, beget. Angry words may engender stife.
degenerete-to decline from a higher or normal form, Tie discussion eventually
de-
generoted into a shouting match.
rEgcncrrte-to form or produce again, reconstitute, restore, grow back. The
form-
erly declining neighborhood wos negenerated by the infli of artists lookingfor
studio space.
geMlory-history of family descent, a family tree. They were able to trace
their
genealogy backfive generations to a small vittage in Srcrry.
gcnoclde-the deliberate killing of an entire peopli. The
nitive inhabitants of
Tosmania were the victims of genocide at the hands of Europeon settlers.
homogeneous-uniform throughout, all of the same kind. Thi entering class wos
foirly homogeneous; neorly oll the students were the same oge andfrom similar
middle'class homes. The Greek prefix homo means ..same,, or ..like.,,
hetcrogeneoN-composed of different typ€s, not uniform . The ship's crew
was a
heterogeneous group representing no fewer than twelve nationalities.
The op-
posite of ftomo, the prefix hetero means ..other,'or ..different.',
progenltor-direct ancestor, forefather. According to Genesis,
Adam ond Eve were
the progenitors of the entire human race.
genrc-kind, tYP€, used especially for types of literary or artistic works.
College
literature courses are sometimes organized by genre,
for instance nineteenth-
aentury p@try or modern drama,In art, genre pointing refers to the representa_
tion of common, everyday objects in a realistic style. we,ve borrowed genre
from modern French and pronounce it more or less in the French style, bui like
the other words in this lesson its source is the Latin genns.

EIER0ISE I synonyms. circre the letter of the word or phrase closest in

meaning to the given word.
l. homogeneous: a) pasteurized b) composed of like elements
c) homosexual d) similar in function
2. degenerate: a) ameliorate b) waver c) disperse d) worsen

36
 Lesson ll / t7

3. genocide: a) classification b) family tree c) killing of a parant

d) extermination of a race
4. genre: a) rype of art work b) oil painting c) epoch d) zoological
division
5. generic: a) inordinate b) belonging to a class c) unfamiliar d) sold
over the counter
6. regenerate: a) anew b) convoke c) rejoice d) give again
create

7. heterogeneous: a) pragrnatic b) unconventional c) varied in makeup

d) normal
E. progenitor: a) prevaricator b) superior c) ancestor d) advocate
9. genealogy: a) historical determinism b) lineage c) friendliness d) study
of inherited traits
10. engender: a) ascribe sexual characteristics to b) serve c) embrace
d) give rise to

EIERCISE II Ctroose the best word to complete each sentence. Write it in the
blank.
l. The sedimentary rock was a mix of several minerals
randomly distributed.
heterogeneou$ genre
regenerate degenerate

2. Some simple organisms are able to grow back or

parts of
their bodies that have been hurt or destroyed.
engender make heterogeneous
regenerate degencrate

3. The term was first applied to the Nazis' systematic attempt

to destroy the Jews.
progenitor genocide
generic genealogy

4. The Dutch still life, tYPical of painting, depicted a Pitcher,

a glass, and somc fruit assembled on a kitchen table.
genocidal genre
regeneratd genealogical

5. According to ancient myth, life on earth has from a former

rtate of innocence and happiness known as Eden or the Golden Age.
become homogeneous regenerated
degenerated engendered

6. The Romans claimed as their Aeneas, the warrior son of

Venus who escaped the Greeks at the fall of Troy'
progenitor genocide
genealogy genre
3t / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

7.The double bloss6m is not a fluke of this particular plant but a

trait of the species.
genre heterogeneous
progenitor generic
8. Shared hardship a feeling of camaraderie that soon ripened
into a friendship.
engendered degenerated
homogenized made generic

EIEruISE III circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. An gxample of a progenitor is a) an uncle b) a great-grandfather c) a
hybrid d) a predecessor in office
2. A homogGneous substance is a) gaseous b) unif.orm c) sterile d) a
conglomeration
3. A genealogy is best organized by a) generation b) year c) biological
form d) nationality
4. The ganeric name of a drug identifies its a) brand b) manufacturer
c) composition d) efficacy

Bortowlng from Letln and Greek

English is not descended from Latin or Greek. The structure of English-its gram-
mar and basic vocabulary-makes it a member of the Germanic linguage ra.ity.
But ever since their tribal progenitors invaded Britain in the fifth century, the Eng-
lish have been borrowing foreign words, mostly from Latin (sometimes through
French) and Greek.
Throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era, the chief language of learn-
ing in Europe was Latin. Greek was less well-known but likewise trilfrfi regarded.
Englishmen who wrote and even spoke Latin in their work and studiis iimpty uor-
rowed terms from the classical languages to create for English a kind of educated
jargon. Much of the academic and technical vocabulary oJ rre
today entered Eng-
lish this way.
It is easy for someone versed in Latin to remembel that, say, munificent means
"gencroust'; he or she can recognize roots in the word meanint..gift;' and .,mak-
ing." Similarly, if you had never seen the word manlike before, you would break it
down into the famitiar elements man and tike. you might have difficulty, though,
with onthropord, "manlike," because the the elements that make it up arl-not BIg-
lish but Greek. For the qajority of English-speaking students, who never study clas-
sical languages, much of the learned vocabulary of English is a puzzle because the
words are built on roots frorn unfamiliar languages.
 田 SSON 12

Our word benefit contains the Latin root ben or bene, meaning "good" or "well"'
gives us:
A benefit is a good deed, a favor, or an advantagc. The same root also
U.of8i-tg*d+ype) favorable, kind, doing little or no harm. Astrologen believe
that the stors exert influences, evil and benign, on humon lives.
young
benefrctor-(well-doer) one who does a good deed or confers a benefit' The
mon's uncle acled a hb benefoctor, paying his tuition and later orranging iob
intemiewsfor him.
bencdlction-(a speaking well) a blessing. The church service ended with a benedic-
tion.
her a
bcnevolencc-(good will) good will, kindnes s. Her many acts of charity eorned
reputation for funevolence. The adjecti v e is benevolent'

The opposite of ben or bene is mal-"bad" or "ill." Once

you have learned the
guess the meanings of maletactor, malediction,
above words, you should be able to
and molevolence. Malisat the root of many other words as well, including:
queen in
mrllce-(bad intention) desire to do evil or injury. The face of the wicked
Snow White is o blend of beauty and malice. The adjectiveis malicious'
metlgnent-(bad+ype) very harmful or dangerous. It wasfeored that the widespread
-spraying
of the weedkitler would have a malignant eflect on wildlile in the areo.
mellnger-tJ pietend to be ill in order to avoid work or responsibility. The child,
ipset by her fomily's move to the new neighborhood, malingered in order to
put off herfint day ot the new school.
mrUay-ittn ess. Reseorchers were unable tofind the couse ol the mysterious malady
which hod attocked several of the hotel's residents'
melelse-(bad ease) a vague uneasiness, discomfort, or unhappiness ' A cold otten
begirc with mwcle ache ond a generol malaise,
nrlprrctice-(bad practice) harmful, incompetent, or neglectful conduct in a pro-
fessional activity. The attorney managed the case so ineptly that the client sued
himfor malProctice.

From benevolence and malevolence, you can guess that the Latin root vol means
"will." lt comes from the word volo (I will, I want) and gives us our wotd volun'
fary. Associating it with voluntary can help you rernember the meaning of
voiltlon-deliberate choice, act of will, power to will. No one torced them to come
here; they came of their own volition.

It shoutd be obvious from benefactor and malelaclor that thc root/ac or foct means
"do." It derives frOm the l-atin verb meaning "to do" or "to make" and is at the
root of many iamiliar English words, such as factory (a place where things are
madel,fact (something done), and manqfactzre (originally, to make by hand). The
same root gives us
39
0 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

factotum-(do everything) an employee with miscellaneous duties. As chief facto-

tum of the plont, he knew everything that went on. The totum part of factotum
comes from the Latin word for "all" or "everything," the same word that gave
rise to total and totolity.

EIER0ISE I riu in the blanks from the list of words below.

malicious malady
volition benefactor
benign factotum
malaise benevolent
benediction malefactor
l. The physician diagnosed the as measles.
2. The crowd gathered in the square to receive the of the
bishop.
3. In the film Svengali, Trilby loses all power of and be-
comes a mere puppet in the hands of the hypnotist.
4. Since the biopsy showed the lesion to be there was no
immediate need for an operation.
5. The accused in this crime has already been convicted twice
of armed robbery.
6. Charles, hired as a for the estate, did everything from
gardening to chauffeuring to electrical repairs.
7. People are immediately attracted by his cheerful and
expression.
E. The busybody had nothing to gain from his gossip but the
pleasure of embarrassing people who had donc hirn no harm。

9. An anonymous gave the library a large donation, which

allowed it to stay open on Sundays.
10. His depression resulted in a that lasted nearly a month; al-
though he was not actually sick, he did not feel well.

EIERCISE II synonyms. circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in

meaning to the given word.
l. malignant: a) helpful b) injurious c) ugly d) weak
2. malediction: a) prediction b) guess c) ailment d) curse
3. volition: a) awareness b) generosity c) free will d) eagerness
4. benevolent: a) kind b) willful c) rational d) mean-spirited
5. malinger: a) misbehave b) feign illness c) work willingly d) fall sick
6. malpractice: a) professional misconduct b) laziness c) lack of
professional success d) ignorance
 Lesson 13 / 4l

7. benign: a) unfortunate b) risky c) good d) genuine

8. malefactor: a) do-gooder b) poor worker c) philanthropist d) criminal
9. malodorous: a) accursed b) disorderly c) evil-smelling d) cruel
10. malice: a) evil intent b) anger c) mischief d) incompetence
ll. malevolence: a) pettiness b) disgust c) ill will d) charity
12. benediction: a) speech b) clear pronunciation c) pleasant greeting
d) blessing

Write your own definitions in the blanks for the underlined words below' Check
your dictionarY if necessarY.
What does it mean to say:
that a machineis malfunctioning?
that a person is molcontent?
that a commentis maloProqos?
that a government is totalitarian?

Shades of Meaning
The Latin-b ased trenefaclor is almost precisely equivalent in its root meaning
to the
since
English expression di-gooder. However, the two words don't mean the same,
improves
66-gooder has a negatiYe connotation. A benefactor does something that
people. A do-gooder meddles in other people's business under the
thelives of other
pretext of helpini thim, out of a smug belief in his or her own moral superiority'
Which one
ih" diff.."nce is like that between a good person and a goody'goody.you think of
you think a person is-a benefactor or a do-gooder-depends on what
that person's motives and of the supposed benefit.

LESSON 13

Twelve adjectives:
conclllrtory-tendingtoplacateortogaingoodwill.Nfter.thequarrelhesent
flowers as a concilioio,y g"t"a This adjective
verb con-
is formed from the
hoitility win good will by friendly be-
ciliate,meaning 'iio pi"""i", overcome or
havior."
games were insidious;
insidious-secretly dangerous, tending to entrap. The casino
beforeherealizedit,hehodgambledawayallofhissavings.Insidiousderives
(to sit). Together they mean
from the Latin prefix rn (iniand the verb sedere
"to sit in wait for," or, as we would say, "to lie in wait for'"
presented stringent orguments for
stringent_se"ere, strict, compelling. The speoker
t he unwelcome cutbacks'
42 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

metlculous-showing careful attention to detail, very precise. The sewing on the

jacket was so meticulotu that one coutd hardry see the stitch6.
fastldlous-hard to please, too critical or sensitive, squeamish, delicate to a fault.
He considered her latidious fucause her feetings were offended by trifling
defects and errors. Meticulous denotes a concern with details, and it is usually a
positive trait, though it can be overdone. Fastidious, on the other hand, vir-
tually always has a negative connotation. It implies an inability to accept or
cope with the minor disappointments, mistakes, messiness, coniusion, oi dirt
of life which most people take in stride.
vlcuous-empty of meaning or interest, without substance, without purpose. I1s
vacuous promises were forgotten os soon as they were uttered. Yocuous is
usually used figuratively to describe things that are intellectually or morally
empty, not physically empty. Etymologically, it simply means ..empty.,,
, soporlflc-sleepy, causing sl*p. Because of the drug's soporific ejfect, you should
not tty to drive after taking it.
vlcerlous-experienced secondhand through imagining another person,s experience.
The children enioyed a vicarious sense of power through the exptoits ol the
comic book hero.
ublqultous-existing everywhere. Popaya, ubiquitous in thot region, is considered
fit onlyfor children and animals.
turgld-swollen, bloated. By the end of his life, the mommoth body of Henry VIII
wos turgid ond riddled with disease. Turgid is one of those adjectives ihat is
used both literally and figuratively. A river swollen by rains is literally turgid;
overwritten and bombastic prose is figuratively turgid. Turgid generally has an
unpleasant connotation. The bellies of starving children are turgid; balloons
are merely inflated.
cepriclous-changing suddenly, willfully erratic. Sfte is so capricious in her moods
thot no one can predict how she wiil take the news.
lncorrigiblc-beyond reform, not able to be corrected. Some delinquents are in-
corrigible.

EffiCISE I Antonyms. circle the retter of the word or phrase most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
l. soporific: a) inducing coma b) adult c) nonmedical d) enlivening
2. capricious: a) unimaginative b) despotic c) boring d) methodical
3. conciliatory: a) revealing b) ill-advised c) provoking d) difficult
4. incorrigible: a) capable of improvement b) craven c) never arrested
d) seldom encountered
5. meticulous: a) radical b) careless c) languid d) revolting
6. vacuous: a) very busy b) pretentious c) intrepid d) deeply significant
7. ubiquitous: a) unprecedented b) unpopular c) rare d) virtuous
8. stringent: a) placid b) lax c) protective d) massive
9. fastidious: a) impeded b) nauseous c) easy-going d) ignorant
10. turgid: a) shrunken b) lucid c) sanitary d) instantaneous
 Lesson 13 / 43

ll. vicarious: a) first-hand b) secular c) benign d) unblemished

12. insidious: a) stellar b) suspicious c) slovenly d) harmless

II Choose the best word to complete each sentence' Write

it in the
EIERCISE
blank.
judicial decisions' is supposed
l. The weight given to legal precedents, or earlier
to prJveni arbitrary or interpretations of the law by
iudges.
incorrigible vacuous
capricious insidious
pleasure in the accomplishments of her
2. The \roman took
daughter.
-
ubiquitous turgid
soporific vicarious

3. Fountains are in Rome: one can hardlY turn a corner

without spotting one.
stringent ubiquitous
meticulous caPricious

4. Rose's cookies were delicious but

I had eaten a dozen

before I rememberedrr"J."t a diet.

"" fastidious
vacuous insidious

5'Meetingbyaccidentonthestreet,theformerclassmatesexchangedafew
- L---:-^-^
polite but comments and went about their business,
i・ 。rgetting each other immediately.
vacuous incorrigible
conciliatorY caPricious

,'n..*:"1hff:[H]'#:ff1];:l1'"0' has verY

insidious stringent
soporifii turgid

T.Althoughtheteenagerhasbeenintroubleseveraltimesalreadyandher can be
parents view her as , the social worker thinks she
helped.
incorrigible stringent
meticulous ubiquitous
attention to
8. Audubon's beautiful wildlife paintings show a
anatomical detail.
conciliatory fastidious
vicarious meticulous

9. A letter, in which he admitted to being somewhat

partners'
t..p"tamental, led to a reconciliation between the
soporific ubiquitous
vacuous conciliatory
4/ Essential Vocabutary for Coltege-Bound Students

10. The character of Felix in The Odd Couple is so that he

obsessively cleans up after the cleaning lady.
turgid capricious
fastidious insidious
I l. It is an overblown, novel of over a thousand pages in
which nothing much happens and no one cares.
turgid fastidious
vicarious conciliatory
12. The music drifting in over the garden had the soothing,
sound of a lullaby.
incorrigible soporific
stringent meticulous

check your dictionary for the etyntology of incorrigiblc. Although

the prefix rz
sometimes means "in" (as in insidious), it frequently signifies ,.not.,, what is the
etymological meaning of the following words? use youi dictionary
to check your
answers.

incongruent
inimitable
inconclusive
incurious

LESSON 14

The following adjectives can all be used to describe people.

dexterous-having manual skill or ease, expert in performing some physical skill..,4
dexterous mechanic, she hod the tire changed in
dextrous.
fivi minutes. Also spelled
parslmonlous-stingy, miserly, too unwilling to spend money.
Atthough wealthy,
she wos porsimonious ond never gave to charity.
obstrcperous-noisy, boisterous, especially in opposition to something. A crowd
gathered os the obsffeperous customer demanded his money
bock.
amenable-agreeable, open to suggestion. The director was amenable to the pro_
posed schedule change.
cttdulous-inclined to believe on slight evidence. The credulous womon
lolowed
every instruction of the fortuneteller. Credulous derives from the Latin verb
credere (to believe), which is also the source of our nouns creed (belief)
and
credit, and of the adj ective credibte (able to be believed).
grcgrrlous-fond of company, sociable. They ore a gregarious couple who
cultivate
many friendships. Gregariou,s comes from the Latin word gregis,..of
the flock
or herd." Gregarious people, like herd animals, enjoy the cornp"ny of others.
 Lesson 14 / 45

imperturbable-not easily excited or disturbed. His poker game was aided by an im-
perturbable face.
lethargic-unusually tired, drowsy, abnormally sluggish. The convalescent wos still
lethargic and found conversation exhausting. The noun form is lethargy.
truculent-ferocious, savage, harsh. The champion aflected a truculent manner to
intimidate the young challenger.
recalcitrant-stubborn, refusing to obey, uncooperative. A recalcitront child is diffi-
cult to teach.
formidable-causing fear or awe. The experienced pro was o lormidable opponent.
Despite its appearance,formidoble has nothing to do with our wordform.lt
comes from the Latin word/ormido, "fear"; etymologically it means "worthy
to be feared." It can be used of things as well as people: The police confiscated
aformidable orraY of weoPons.
.rper"iliou.-proud, haughty, believing oneself to be superior. The supercilious
social ottitudes of the orbtocracy contributed to the resentment felt by the
mercantile middte class. Latin supercilium means "eyebrow." It seems that
raised eyebrows have long been used to express disdain or disapproval.

EXEBGISE I Synonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in mean-
ing to the given word.
l. amenable: a) thinking profoundly b) recalcitrant c) brooding
d) agreeing readilY

2. formidable: a) awesome b) repulsive c) correctable d) able to be

copied

3. imperturbable: a) superior b) wary c) hysterical d) unflappable

4. gregarious: a) animalistic b) liking to be with people c) shepherdlike
d) confident
5. lethargic: a) malingering b) strenuous c) unconscious d) very sleepy
6. obstreperous: a) making a commotion b) vacillating c) too eaSer to
obey d) of childbirth
7. parsimonious: a) affluent b) corruptible c) tight-fisted d) grammatical
8. recalcitrant: a) sowing wild oats b) feigning innocence c) softening
d) resisting authority
9. supercilious: a) powerful b) too proud c) abundant d) asinine
10. truculent: a) rough-mannered b) sweaty c) insipid d) saccharine
ll. dexterous: a) generous b) manually competent c) formally polite
d) faithful
12. credulous: a) easy to deceive b) believable c) reliSious d) buying on
credit

EIERCISE II Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. A lethargic person wants to
a) rest b) eat c) feel superior d) be with people
# / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

2. Recalcitrant people are

a) hostile to strangers b) unwilling to cooperate c) easy to get along
with d) outspoken
3. An obstreperous crowd is likely to
a) line up peacefully b) be unruly c) be respectful d) disperse
is the act of a credulous person.
a) Reading novels b) Dancing on a rable c) Cheating at
solitaire d) Buying the Brooklyn Bridge
5. A large, truculent man is liable to
a) drive a truck b) be stubborn c) pick fights d) have a lot of money
6. If the person in charge is amenable to a suggestion, the suggestion is likely
to be
a) forgotten b) implemented c) rewritten d) printed
7. A parsimonious individual
a) is always late b) gambles c) preaches sermons d) counts every
penny

E. Gregarious people are not

a) loners b) trustworthy c) physically fit d) misers
9. A dexterous cook can
a) read a recipe b) plan a menu c) flip eggs without breaking the
yolks d) barely boil water
10. A formidable figure is one that inspires
a) giggles b) fearful respect c) imitation d) love
I l. A supercilious person often feels for others.
a) contempt b) sympathy c) sorrow d) hope
12. ln a crisis, an imperturbable person
a) talks incessantly b) faints c) remains calm d) cracks jokes

EIffiCISE III F.o- memory, try to complete the following senrences with words
from this lesson. The first letter of each answer is given beforJthe blank.
Write your
answers in the blanks.

l. The older boy wore a [s] expression of haughty disdain.

2. He was a rough, [t]-- savage, given to public brawling.
3. The trl- class refused to do any of the work assigned.
4. The hero of the film never loses his cool through all his globe-trotting adven-
tures; although his life is threatened every three minutes, he remains
[]--.
5. Even a friendly, tg]- host can get tired of houseguests.
6. Disappointed with the movie, some of the kids became so rowdy and
[ol that they were thrown out of the theater.
7. Young children are naturally lcl-: they will believe almost
anything you tell them.
 Lesson 15 / 47

An experienced, [d]-- seamstress can make a dress in an

afternoon.
9. The combination of exhaustion and a heavy meal left them feeling so

Ul__- that they could hardly drag themselves to bed'

10. The assembled army, bristling with weapons' made a
tfl-- appearance, striking fear into the hearts of the
citizens.

Il. If you are tal_- to the plan, we will go ahead with it'
12. Scrooge, the [pl-- old man who cares for nothing but his
moneybags, is the Perfect miser.

LESSON 15

Thirteen more adjectives:

lmpromptu-spontaneous, not planned or prepared in advance. Impromptu re-

condidate reatty think than prepred speeches do'

provided a
salutrry-promoting health, conducive to good. The preacher's anecdote
solutary luson on the perils of dishonesty.
pctrmptory-imperative,
- dictatorial, commanding in an abrupt or offensive way'
He onnounced his opinions in a peremptory tone, which was extemely ronkling
to his hearers.
predictable
vepid-tasteless, dull, lifeless, f1at. Their convercotion wos so vopid and
I lost interqt in talking to them.
cutrory-hurried, superficial. Czrso ry examinotion of the scene revealed nothing
amiss.
efflceclous-able to produce a desired effect. The drtg is efficaciotts in the treot-
ment of molaria.
blrtent-too noisy or obtrusive, impossible to ignore. The children's blatant dis'
regordfor conventional monners emborrossed their older relatives.
lryenuius-artless, innocently straightforward or truthful. As o young man he still
hod the wide'eyed, ingenuous look oJachild.
rdemrnt-inflexible, hard, unbreakable. She was adamant in her determinotion to
mokethe OlYmPic team.
complrccrt-happy with what is, self-satisfied. Sfte wos complacent about her
grades, but her parents thought she should have fuen working harder.
cstnngcd-alienated, separated, especially emotionally, from what one was former-
liclosc to. Her atmnged husband hod moved out six months preYiortsly.
tmponOcntte-not capable of being weighed or measured, Some skills, for instonce
48 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

typing speed, ore easy to meosure, while othen, such as the talent for getting
olong wilhfellow workers, ore imponderable.
contentlous-quarrelsome, tending to argue too frequently or persistently. One
contentious student can ruin o debate.

EIEBCISE I Antonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
l. complacent: a) passive b) onerous c) dissatisfied with oneself
d) jocose
2. vapid: a) scintillating b) aggravating c) inebriated d) irascible
3. adamant: a) convincing b) convivial c) lackluster d) quick to yield
4. imponderable: a) featherweight b) measurable c) thoughtless
d) adroit
5. impromptu: a) decorous b) rehearsed c) extraneous
d) extemporaneous
6. efficacious: a) arduous b) not lively c) supine d) ineffective
7. contentious: a) arduous b) not lively c) disconsolate d) desiring to
avoid a quarrel
8. estranged: a) native b) in rapport c) removed d) breathing easily
9. blatant: a) subtle b) feckless c) fascinated d) placating
10. peremptory: a) racking drama b) pleading c) foreseen d) pranned
ll. salutary: a) doing damage b) salubrious c) saying goodbye
d) lubricous
12. cursory: a)printed b) attenuated c) thorough d) beatific
13. ingenuous: a) solitary b) fult of guile c) ambitious d) full of ideas

ExmGIsE II rin in the blanks from the rist of words below.

salutary imponderable
estranged ingenuous
complacent contentious
cursory vapid
peremptory blatant
impromptu adamant
efficacious
l. The essay was thorough and technically competent but
and colorless; the writer seemed to have no fresh ideas about his subject.
2. She planned to make a(n) review of her notes in the hour
before the exam.
3. when the car broke down on a road next to a river, they decided to have
a(n) swim and picnic.
 Lesson 15 / 49

4. The days of sun and exercise had a(n) effect; his asthma
abated and he looked more relaxed.
5. The coach warned the winning players against becoming
and taking the repeat championship for granted.
5. His contempt for his colleagues was ; he made no attempt
to conceal his disgust.
7. Marla ls from her family; her parents disapproved of her
moving out and now she rarely calls them.
8. The man had a(n) manner, which he considered masterful
and which everyone else found bossy and offensive.
9. Proven skills and past records aside, there are too many
factors to allow one to predict with confidence the outcome of any
single game.

10. Very young children are naturally ; they haven't yet

learned to edit their remarks for public consumption.
ll. He's a(n) soul who loves to meet people of other political
persuasions so that he can argue with them.

12. The most rernedy for insomnia she'd found was a glass of
milk and television-ten minutes of a late'night rerun and she would be
snoring.
13. The parents were generally strict and especially about the
curfew. The kids had to be home by midnight, no matter what'

EIEBCISE III Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
1. A blatant display a) tasteful b) flagrant -c) fragrant d) criminal
is
2. An argument may be salutary if it a) clears the air b) is contentious
c) involves partisan feelings d) estranges people who love each other
3. An adamant person is like a a) butterfly b) snake in the grass
c) marshmallow d) rock
4. An impromptu conference is a) protracted b) clandestine c) regularly
scheduled d) held on the spur of the moment
5. An example of something imponderable is a) sugar b) mass c) loyalty
d) an efficacious medicine
6. An ingenuous person usually appears a) preoccupied with his own
proUte.r b) too inexperienced to deceive anyone c) complacent with
his station in life O dedicated to evil
7. A vapid personality is a) schizoid b) memorable c) uninteresting
d) devious
8. A peremptory manner is to be expected from a a) drill sergeant
b) younger sibling c) psychotherapist d) servant
 LESSON 16

The items in Lessons 16, 17, and 18 are all verbs, words denoting actions.
expedlte-speed, facilitate. In order to expedite delivery of the letter, you shoutd
send it special delivery.
excoriatF-scratch severely, flay, strip off the skin of. The shorp rocks excoriated
her tender fet. &coriate is frequently used in a figurative sense, as: The ptay
was an excoriating ottack on the stupidity and moral blindness of the war-
mongers.
augment-increase. He augments hb wealth with every deal.
promulgat+announce publicly as a law or doctrine. The revolutionory government
promulgated some of the promised reforms.
mllltate-operate against, work against. A por opwaronce st the intemiew will
militate agoinst your being hired. Militale is always used with ogainst.
annul-wipe out, make void. The supreme Court can annul a law which it deems
unconstitutionol.
cirrumvent-go around, frustrate by avoiding, outwit. A technicatity allowed
people to circumvent the intention of the low without actuolly breoking ir. The
root circam is Latin for "around" and venl derives from the verb meaning
ttcome.t'
comprise-include, be made up of, consist of. The test wilt comprise the subject
matter of the previousfive lessons.
denlgrate-blacken, defame, expose unfairly to scorn or hatred. The lawyer tried to
denigrote the chorocter of the witness by implyins that he wost mentolly un-
stable.
quibble-evade an issue or confuse an argument by picking on trivial details or play-
ing on words. ll'e're in ogreement on the moin points, so let,s not quibble over
details.
evlncr-make evident, display, show clearly. His curt reply evinced his short
temwr.

EIEBGISE I Antonyms. Circle the letrer of the phrase most opposite in

meaning to the givur word.
l. annul: a) affirm b) highly c) institutionalize d) abet
prize
2. expedite: a) stay at home b) hasten c) delay d) remove
3. comprise: a) fail to apprehend b) overlook c) exclude O ignore
pointedly
4. evince: a) convince b) conceal c) capitulate Q win

50
 Lcsson 16 / 5l

5. quibble: a) make a joke b) make a fuss c) argue the main issue

d) protest
6. militate: a) sigg a peace treaty b) support c) anlist d) eschew
7. promulgate: a) procrastinate b) revoke c) rebel d) reconsider
t. denigrate: a) clarify b) grateful c) blacken d) whitewash
be

9. circumvent: a) obey to the letter b) entice c) elude O stifle

10. augrnent: a) fail to impress b) reduce c) lose money d) add to
ll. excoriate: a) be thick-skinned b) be subtle c) soothe with flattery
d) strip of ornaments

EIERIISE II Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
l. One way to evince stupidity is to
puzzles d) fail to
a) act composed u) ue caretul c) solve intellectual
understand simPle things
2. A-Promulgateslaws'
a) law-abiding citizen b) scofflaw c) legislature o court of appeals
3. An excoriating review is -'
a)extremelyunfavorableb)usedforpublicityc)judiciously
balanced d) a rave
4. our will require that we augment our program'
a) budgetary cutback b) grofih in clientele c) progressive dismantling
d) chaotic billing methods
-'
5.Themonarchwishedtohavehismarriageannulledsothat

a) he could get a divorce b) the children would be legitimate c) he

queen
could remarry O his wife would be recognized as
will expedite the processing of claims'
ft"ring fewer adjusters b) Investigating claimants c) Closing
")
early O Consolidating PaPer work
7. By circumventing a requirement, a person it.
a) avoids having to fulfill it b) asserts c) invalidates d) lives up to

8. In the dcbate, he accused his opponent of quibbling when the opponent

a) lost his temper b) asked him to define his terms c) resorted to smear
tactics d) intemrPted him twice
- is to denigrate her character.
9. To say that a tidy woman is
→ a800d hOlisekeper り an ideal wife O a slattem O afrlanced
10。 compriscs many autonomous states.
d a satellite nation b) A federation c) An aggressor d) A
dictatorship
52 / Essential Vocabulary for College― Bound Students

I l. Having will militate against your getting a fellowship.

a) letters of recommendation b) financiat need c) several
incompletes d) many A's

EIEBGISE III riu in the blanks from the tist of words below.
comprised circumvented
evinced quibbled with
promulgated augmented
excoriated denigrated
expedited annulled
militated against
l. With more streamlined equipment, production capacity could be
by thirty percent.
2. The professor one or two paragraphs where the argument
was overstated, but otherwise found the paper provocative and well-
informed.
The entertainer sued, claiming that the newspaper had her
good name and exposed her to embarrassment and mental anguish.
.

4。 From the pulpit the minister, with righteous wrath, the

hoodlums who had attacked an innocent stranger.
5。 She the detective's vigilance by escaping out a back
window.
6. The student such an eagerness to travel that I was sure he
would get to Europe somehow.
7. The surplus of highly qualified applicants and the steady decrease in the
number of positions available a significant
improvanent in salaries.
8. The infallibility of the pope when speaking ex cathedra was
as dogma in the Roman Catholic Church until
modern times.
9. The anthology the best-known works of about twenty
Victorian poets.
10, The computers have simple transactions so that customers
no longer have to wait half an hour on line every time they come to the
bank.
I l. Their commitments to each other were by mutual consent
and they parted on friendly terms.

EffiCISE [U circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. A task completed expeditiously is done a) surreptitiously
b) half-heartedly c) quickly Q audaciously
 Lcsson 17 / 53

2. The denigration of a man's character will probably cause him to

a) quibble b) regale his attackers c) a'ince anger d) circumvent legal
proceedings

3. To excoriate, something must be a) augmented b) very sharp

c) compromised d) legallY binding
4. Once an agreement has becn annulled, it a) has no force b) has been
promulgated c) can be augmented d) is comprised of numerous clauses
5. If it is likely to be
many forces militate against passage of a bill,
a) denigrated b) promulgated c) poorly worded d) defeated

LESSON 17

prognostlcate-predict, foretell, forecast. Market analysts muil prognosticate

economictluctuations occurotely in order to advise invstors.
marrud-travel about in search of plunder, raid, pillage. Medieval towns u,ere
walled and guarded to protect inhabitonts from morouding bandits.
upbreid-scold, charge with something disgraceful, reproach. The hwband up
braided his wife for her extrovagances.
rpprsisc-set a value on, estimale the worth of. The price ot which outhoritia
appraise o building determinq its taxes.
apprtsc-give notice to, inform. The soldier wos captu?ed because none could
opprise him of the enemy's odvonce.
stigprtizFbrand, mark as criminal or disgraceful. His odd opryorance ond secre
tive monner stigmatized him as weird; his classmates regarded him with stts'
picion. Originally, astigma was a mark branded on or cut in the skin to identify
criminals or slaves.
-
expllcate-explain the meaning of, interpret, The French teacher explicated the
grommor of the more difliait passages. The Latin er means "out" and plicare
means "fold," so etymologically to explicate is to unfold. Something that can
be explicated is Wlicoble.
prrley-use
- one asset to gain more, exploit an advantage for futher gain. The mer-
chant partayed o smoll neighborhood business into a citywide chain of retoil
stores.
perley-confer,
- speak, especially with an enemy for the purpose of settling a dispute
or reaching an agreement. Both sides agred to a trace in order to Wrley for the
exchange of prisonerc. While parloy is based on the Yord pro (equal)' parley
comes from the French verb prler (speak).
whecdle-nag, plead with, or coax in a flattering way. With soft words the girl
wheedled permission from her reluctant guardian.
rcnGgc-go back on a promise or agreement. Their ossurancgs of good foith were
hollow; they reneged on the agreement almost at once.
dcsccmte-defile a holy place, make unsanctifid, profane. They desecrated the
church by seizing the mon who hod taken reluge there'
54 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EXERCISE I circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. A person who agrees to parley is ready to a) negotiate b) chat c) make
money d) surrender
2. Aa appraisal is a) a notification b) a conference c) a kind of tax O an
evaluation
3. One can parlay a) an abatement b) an asset c) a prediction O a
detriment
4. Traditional devices for prognostication do not include a) decks of cards
b) souvenirs c) crystal balls d) horoscopes
5. To apprise a person is to a) reproach him b) gull him c) startle
him d) inform him
6. A person who reneges a) breaks faith b) confers c) plunders for
booty O defiles a sacred place
7. A desecrated temple requires a) buttressing b) an orthodox
congregation c) ritual purification d) acolytes
8. A marauder does not a) commit outrages b) steal c) travel about
d) stay indoors
9. A person who is constantly upbraiding others feels a) placid
b) aggrieved c) unkempt d) lucky
10. One wheedles with a) blandishments b) brandishes c) branding
irons d) lawsuits
ll. A stigmatized person is a) persuasive b) marked out from the
crowd c) accepted d) carefree
12. An explication of a joke is a) an analysis of it b) a suppression of
it c) obscene d) humorous

EIEBCISE lllntonyms. Draw a line connecring each word with the word or
phrase most nearly its opposite.

l. apprise give honor to

2. desecrate keep a promise
3. maraud fail to notify
4. appraise cleanse
5. stigmatize refuse to confer
5. upbraid obfuscate
7. parley thank
8. explicate recall the past
9. parpy restore wealth to
10. wheedle lose an asset
ll. renege be unable to put a price on
12. prognosticate threaten
 L6son 17 / 55

EIEnfiSE III riu in the blanks from the list of words below.
reneging upbraiding
parlaYtng apprising
marauding dcecratiru
prognosticating parleyrng
apPraising explicating
stigmatizing wheedling

l. The thirty-page article was devoted to a single pocm of a

dozen lines.

2. Softened by the child's , shc let him stay uP Past his

bedtime.
3. While you're , tell me whether it's going to rain
tomorrow.
4. By the agency of your changc of address, you have
fulfilled your legal obligation.
5. Social groups often enforce uniformity by nonconformists
as insane or evil.

6. By on their contract, they not only inconvenienced the

buyers but damaged their credit in the business community.
7. John's mother was constantly berating him about his manners and
him for his clumsiness.
8. The youths were guilty of a national monument bY
pdnting it with slogans and crude anatomical diagrams.
-
9. After a modest capital into a smdl fortune, the
entrepreneur retired at forty.
10. He gave the applicant a(n) look, as if she were a side of
beef and he a butcher considering a price.
ll. If they are for terms, a settlement of the border dispute
must be imminent.
t2. The province lapsed into lawless confusion as soldiers ran
rampant through the countryside.

EIEAII$E IY Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
1. phenomenon defi es exPlanation.
a) An inexplicable b) A marauding c) A desecrating d) An
unappraised
2. The phrase recalls the original meaning of stigmotizc.
a) "lowdown and dirty" b) "hopelessly in love" c) "brand as a

liar" d) "star quality"

3. An prognosticates good fortune.
a) upbraiding b) auspicious omen c) ominous sigrr O appraisal
56 / Essential Vocabulary for Conege… BOund Students

4. He good looks and a pleasant voice into a singing career.

a) parlayed b) parleyed c) appraised d) wheedled
5. We took the heirlooms to a reliable jeweler to be
a) reneged b) apprised c) marauded d) appraised
6. Once captured, the were stigmatized as outlaws.
a) appraisers b) marauders c) explicators d) wheedlers

LESSON 18

palpltrte-flutter, tremble, beat rapidly. The dog wos palpitoting with excitement as
his master went to get the leosh.
enervste-weaken, debilitate, cause to lose energy or nerve. A long illness con ener-
vate even the strongest constitution,
deflle-make dirty, pollute, make ritually unclean, sully. / wouldn't defile my hands
with the profitsfrom such cynical exploitotion.
obviate-eliminate as a requirement, make unnecessary . A few phone calls can often
obviate the delay of a protracted correspondence.
flail-thrash, wave wildly, beat. The younger child was flailing with his fists, trying
to hit the older boy, who held him easily ot arm's tength. Aftait is an old-fash-
ioned farm implement-two sticks tied end to end so that one is a handle and
the other can swing freely-used for threshing grain by hand. To flail is there-
fore to beat, as one beats grain with a flail, especially in a wild or free-swinging
way.
cepltulrte-surrender, yield. The city capitulated to the victorc without a shol being
fired.
beguile-trick or mislead, especially by pleasant or charming means. white he pre-
tended to be beguiled by Blanche's flirtotious ottentions, Rochester knew that
she wos only interested in himfor his money.
inculctte-teach, instill, impress on the mind by repetition. From eorliest childhood
they had been inculcated with the tenets of the community,s betiefs.
ululate-howl, hoot, wail in lamentation. The ululating of wolves is perhaps the
most hounting sound in noture.
Itsuscitste-bring back to life, revive. Artificial respiration was used to resuscitate
theswimmer.
smellorste-improve, make or become better. With the recent influx of weatth into
the country, social conditions can be expected to ameliorate,
wrrst-take by violence. In a bloody coup, a mititory junta wrested control of the
government from the president ond his cabinet.
 Lesson lt / 57

EXffiCISE I Synonyrnr. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in mean-
ing to the given word.
l. beguiled: a) pleasurably deceived b) widely diffused c) baited d) bated
2. inculcated: a) vaccinated b) dogmatic c) oriented d) indoctrinated
]. wrest: a) grab b) knock down c) hold tightly d) wave with wild
abandon
4. obviate: a) neglect b) render nonessential c) make obvious d) become
fertile
5. palpitate: a) cry out b) vibrate c) remain unmoved d) touch
6. resuscitated: a) brought to light b) hospitalized c) restored to life
d) interred
7. ululation: a) deprivation b) keening lament c) wave-like motion
d) grief
8. ameliorate: a) sweeten b) enhance c) deteriorate d) promise
9. enervate: a) make excuses for b) surrender c) devitalize d) madden
10. defile: a) challenge b) straighten c) muddy d) question
ll. flail: a) feel deep chagrin b) skin an animal c) sift d) pound furiously
12. capitulate: a) give in b) reiterate c) captivate d) decline

EIERCISE II Choose the best word to complete each sentence. Write it in the
blank.
l. They longed to take a vacation somewhere where the air was not
with smoke and gas fumes.
obviated ululated
inculcated defiled

2. I was so terrified I could hear my heart

ameliorating enervating
palpitating resuscitating

3. The president declared that to the terrorists' demands

would encourage others to follow the same violent course'
resuscitation defiling
capitulation inculcating

4. The square echoed with the of the heartbroken mourners.

inculcations ululations
capitulations flailings

5. The policeman the pistol from the assailant.

wrested capitulated
flailed obviated

6. In the distance we spotted three figures on the strand,

their arms to attract our attention.
beguiling PalPitating
wresting flailing
58 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

7. When she fainted in the waiting room, the patient was

with smelling salts.
resuscitated defiled
enervated wrested
8. The optimistic forecast predicted that the housing shortage would be
by the end of the year.
obviated wrested
ameliorated ululated
9. A notarized signature will suffice; it will the need for you
to come in personally.
beguile capitulate
resuscitate obviate
10. The parents claimed that the cult,s methods of its doc-
trines amounted to brainwashing.
ululating palpitating
beguiling inculcating
by the delightful company, she forgot that she had an
appolntlnent.
Enervated Beguiled
Defiled Ameliorated
12. The survivors were too by their ordeal to eat much; all
they wanted to do was sleep.
ameliorated flailed
enervated palpitated

EXERGISE III F om memory, try to complete rhe following sentences with

words from this lesson. The first letter of each answer is given before the blank.
Write your answers in the blanks
l. The patient's condition has [a] : his temperature is down
and he is able to sit up.
2. The confidence man insinuated himself into the old lady,s trust and
tbl her out of her savings.
3. In small matters many people will [c] to unreasonable de-
mands for the sake of avoiding a quarrel.
4. A scrupulously honest person feels [dl by having to tell
even a justifiable lie.
5. After sticking to a crash diet for over a week, she became too
lel to go to work.
6. The man [fl out in anger at the youth who had taunted
him.
7. The father felt it was necessary to [i] in his children a mis-
trust of strangers for their own protection.
8. The fact that she had worked for the company previously
lol the need for an interview.
 Lesson 19 / 59

9. Picking up the fledgling robin that had fallen from its nest, the boy could
feel it [p] ln his hand.

10. Heart massage successfully [rl the stroke victim.

ll. The campers' sleep was broken by the [ul of the hyenas.
12. Charlene tried frantically to [w] her toy truck from the
teacher's griP.

LESSON 19

The items in this lesson are all nouns.

-
equanimity-calm temper, quality of being even-tempered or of remaining com-
posed. Unforeseen accidents and hostile questions could nol ruffle the
speaker's equanimitY.
affiniiy-relationship, kinship, special liking. There b a close affinity among the
mony European languoges, such os Sponish, French, and ltolian, thot are des-
cendedfrom Latin.
He de'
opprobrium'-reproach or scorn resulting from disgraceful conduct, infamy'
served all the opprobrium he receivedfor turning his back on ofriend.
proclivity-tendency, inclination, especially for something not approved of. The
child hos a proclivity for getting into trouble'
surveillence-a watching or observation, especially done by those in authority' Ifte
police kept the house of the suspected drug dealerc under 24-hour sumeillonce.
-surveillance
is a form of spying in which those doing the spying have more
power or authority than those being spied upon. It comes from a French word
meaning "oversee."
juxtapositioi-a placing close together, The iuxtaposition of the Capitol and the
White House was ivoided in ptanning the city of Woshington to emphasize the
seporation or the legislature lrom the executive branch. The verb is iuxtapose,
"to place together or in relation."
liaison-a connection, linking. He had served as o liabon between the Allied com-
mond ond the local government. Also borrowed for English from
French, /tai-
son ultimately derives from the Latin verb ligare, "to bind'"
He accused
chicanery-unethical methods, petty trickery, especially in legal matters'
the winning condidates of chicanery in the election'
mvesty-an imitation of a serious work so as to make it seem ridiculous' a
bur-
leique. The new production of Shakespeare in modern longuoge is a travesty'
olcohol-
incidence-the range of occurrenie of an effect. The incidence ol reported
ism among teenogerc is increosing'
on rea'
rationrle-rational bisis, an explanation or justification supposedly based
son. They defended their discriminotory poticy wilh the rationale thot women
werephysicollyincompetenttoperformthework.Rationaleusedtohavean
60 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

entirely respectable meaning: a rationale was the underlying reason or logical

basis for something. It can still be used in this neutral sense. Recently, howJver,
it has acquired a negative flavor in many contexts. A rotionole is now fre-
quently a false or indefensible reason for something. When people make up
plausible but bogus explanations for the things they do, we say they are ra-
tionalizing.

EIERGISE I synonyms. circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in

meaning to the given word.
l. opprobrium: a) ridicule b) severe disapproval c) approbation d) lack
of enthusiasm
2. liaison: a) link b) trick c) cut d) embassy
3. chicanery: a) political participation b) legal action c) petty tricks
d) news reporting
4. incidence: a) an urging b) number of occurrences c) statistic
d) disagreement
5. proclivity: a) reluctance b) rashness c) friendliness d) tendency
6. travesty: a) itinerary b) costume c) ludicrous imitation d) insincere
response

7. affinity: a) close relation b) engagement c) promise d) endlessness

8. surveillance: a) connection b) illegal harassment c) probation
d) official watching
9. rationale: a) a rationing b) a misconceiving c) fundamental reason
d) process of thought
10. juxtaposition: a) basis b) a splitting in two c) a placing together
d) reconciliation
ll. equanimity: a) vivaciousness b) calmness of mind c) creativity
d) fairness

EmflSE lI fiU in the blanks from the list of words betow.

affinity equanimity
liaison travesty
rationale opprobrium
incidence juxtaposition
chicanery proclivity
surveillance

l. Because of the patient's for drug abuse, the physician

hesitated to prescribe even a mild sedative.

2. The landlord was guilty of _ in trying to insert a new clause

into the lease after it had been signed.
3. A suicidal prisoner must be kept under constant
 Lesson 19 / 61

4. Treachery and cowardice in the face of the enemy earned them

universal
5. Because we have such similar tastes, I feel a great with
Edith, as if she were mY own sister.
6. jury was prejudiced, the defense attorney incompetent, and the
Since the
judge bribed, the case was a(n) of justice.
7.The of cancer was unusually high in the area that had
been sprayed with Agent Orange.
8. Hcr was not disturbed by the commotion around her; she
was an island of calm in a sea of hysteria.
9。 The for the increased rates was that fuel costs had risen
38 percent.

10.The of photographs by the two artists in the exhibit made

the difference in sensibility obvious.

I l. A special officer acted as between the companY and

community organizations.

EIERGISE UI From memory, try to complete the following sentences with

words from this lesson. The first letter of each answer is given before the blank'
Write your answers in the blanks.
1.The close lal of design and color leads me to think that
the two textiles must have been woven in the same region, perhaps in the
same village.

2. The [c] involved in her real estate dealings, though not

actually illegal, was bad enough to embarrass her when it was exposed in
the newspapers.
3. Richard has the [e] and patience to watch five kids at
the beach all day without once losing his temper.
a. The lil of fatal automobile accidents nationwide dropped
when the 55-mph speed limit went into effect.
5. The [j] of the elegant old mansion and the drive-in
donut shopcreated a bizarre look.
6. As spokesperson for the department, she acted as a [l]
with other government agencies.
7. Although he was never legally charged with any crime, he lost his position
and suffered public [o] for betraying the nation's trust.
8.A Ipl for eating when depressed can lead to obesity'
9. They claimed national security as the [r] for their sudden
attack.
10. Wiretapping is a kind of electronic [s]
ll. The plot is so improbable and the prose so ludicrous, I think the author must
have ntended dЮ novel as a[t] of a gothic romance.
62 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EXERCISE [V Circle the letter of the correct choice to comptete each sentence.
l. Things that are juxtaposed are not a) parallel b) distant from each
other c) akin d) commonly found
2. A travesty is never a) publicly acknowledged b) humorous c) the result
of a proclivity for burlesque d) respectful
3. Things having an affinity are likely ro a) last b) lean c) have a high
incidence d) be similar
4. A rationale purports to be a) reasonable b) laughable c) planned
d) bigoted
5. Most people cannot face opprobrium with complete a) surveillance
b) anxiety c) equanimity d) affinity
6. A liaison is a means of a) deception b) communication c) making
money d) chicanery

LESSON 20

The words in this hsson are frequently misunderstood or confused with each other.
amblguous-having more than one possible meaning. The ombiguous wording of
some legislative octs requires clari,fication by the courts.
amblvalent-having conflicting feelings. I om ambivolent about the job; although
the atmosphere and people are pleosant, the work itself is boring.
adverrc-opposing, contrary. Adverce winds slowed the progress of the ship.
avetse-having a dislike or reluctance. The perenniol bachelor is averse to matri-
mony, at leostfor himself.
imply-suggest indirectly, say without stating outright. Atthough they made no
comment, their cool manner implied strong disapproval of tlE scheme.
infer-to conclude from reasoning or evidence. From hints that the student
dropped, the instractor infened that he wos hoving problems ot home.
flaunt-to display freely, defiantly, or ostentatiously. Flounting expensive jewelry in
public may be on unwitting invitation to robbery.
tlout-to mock, show contempt for. Heflouted respectobility by oppeartng with his
lover in public,
affect-to influence. The judge did not allow his personal feelings to ofJect his judy-
ment of the cose's legal merits.
effect-to bring about, cause. New regulations have effected a shift in policy on ap-
plicotiors.
imminent-about to happen, soon to occur. With the storm imminent, we brought
in the lawnfurniture and closed all the windows.
 Lesson20 / 63

eminent-outstanding, prominent, distinguished. Sfte is an eminent scholar of Rus'

sian literoture and she is widely acclaimed for her work os a translator.
unique-without like or equal, unmatched, single in its kind. The statue wos volu-
able because of its unique beauty. You will see unique used loosely to mean
"superior" Or "unusual," but in fOrmal prOSe it generally Signifies "one Of a
kind."
disinterested-not involved, unprejudiced. A disinterested witness is one who has no
personol stake in the outcome of the case. ln formal usage, disinterested does
not mean "uninterested" but rather "impartial'"

EIERGISE Synony,ns. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in mean-
I
ing to the given word.
l. eminent: a) renowned b) likely c) threatening d) profound
2. disinterested: a) thoughtful b) uncaring c) unbiased d) immoderate
3. flaunt: a) waive b) disregard c) show off d) float
4. imminent: a) prominent b) approximate c) in close proximity
d) impending
5. ambiguous: a) dense b) emotionally confused c) able to use both hands
equally d) open to more than one interpretation
6. flout: a) treat with consideration b) scornfully disregard c) be ignorant
of d) recommend
７

unique: a) very good b) sole c) coherent d) cloned

  ８

infer: a) guess on the basis of evidence b) comprehend c) imprecate

d) suggest indirectly
９   ０   １

averse: a) unwilling b) detracting c) dashing d) contradictory

effect: a) influence b) hurry c) modify d) cause
ambivalent: a) emotionally torn b) stubborn c) intricate d) mysterious
in meaning
12. adverse: a) ditatory b) working against c) conditional d) turned upside
down
implied: a) concluded b) hinted at c) reasoned d) involved
３  ４

affected: a) brought to pass b) diseased c) emphasized d) changed

EXEAfiISE II riu in the blanks from the list of words below.

ambiguous unlque
inferred ambivalent
flouted flaunted
implied disinterested
averse eminent
imminent adverse
64 / Essential Vocabulary for C01lege‐ Bound Students

l. while any number of prints can be made from a single engraving, every
painting, good or bad, is
2. The source he quoted in his paper was not an obscure commentator but
a(n) authority in the field.
3. That rain had been predicted could be from the fact that
two-thirds of the people in the street were carrying umbrellas.
4. Her outrageous conduct her parents' notions of propriety,
causing them deep chagrin.
５

The voters, to paying higher taxes, defeated the proposal.

  ６

The low voter turnout was blamed on apathy and weather

conditions.
7. Whenever he returned to his hometown, he his new-found
wealth in front of all the people who had derided his ambition.
8. The student was about attending college so far from
home; she was both very nervous and very happy at thi prospect.
9. Janice said that she thought she had done badly on the test, but her cheerful
manner otherwise.
10. Warned by a phone call that an explosion was
, police
evacuated the building immediately.
ll. You are prejudiced because the man is your friend, but a(n)
observer would say that he is acting unfairly.
12. The note they left was so I couldn't figure out if they
were planning to return or not.

EIEBGISE III
circte the letrer of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. To affect a person's mood is to a) change it in some way b) dampen his
spirits c) create it d) ridicule it
2. Another way of saying to effect is a) to affect b) to influence
c) ro have
an effect on d) to put into effect
3. An adverse review is a) glowing b) reructantly favorable c) negative
d) tepid
4. The object of flaunting something is generally to a) inspire disdain
b) offend sensibilities c) inspire admiration and-envy d) disguise
one's real motive
5. when a disaster is about to strike, great misfortune is a) ambivalent
b) imminent c) eminenr d) ambiguous
 REVIEW TEST 2

l. Though etated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the con-
trary, he was all attention to everybody.
Austen
-Jane
The man described is probably a) truculent b) arrogant c) gregarious d) a
malefactor

2. The news of the mornins become stale and vopid bv ,0,

!ifi,!il';rr,,,,
Another word for vapid is a) false b) forgotten c) brief d) lifeless

Questions 3 and 4.
on the third day my mother sickened; her fever was accompanied by the
most alarming symptoms, ond the looks of her medicol attendants prog'
nosticated the worst event. On her deothbed the lortitude and benignity
of this best of women did not desert her.
Shelley
-Mory
3. The looks of the mother's attendants a) were avuncular b) foretold her
death c) obviated a cure d) implied that she was malingering

4. Benignity means a) patience b) stamina c) goodness d) sense of humor

5. We commented adverselv upon the imbecilitv of thot

"'Yffii'lli;rr,
The writer's comments on the style may be imagined as a) caustic
b) conciliatory c) amenable d) vacuous

Questions 6 and 7.
The motes regularly relieved each other at the watches, and for aught
that could be seen the contrary, they seemed to be the only commonders
of the ship; only they sometimes issued from the cabin with orders so
sudden and peremptory, thot after all it was ploin they but commonded
vicariouslY'
Mervitte
-Herman
6. A peremptory order is a) not feasible b) meticulous c) imperiously
commanding d) ambiguouslY worded
7. By saying that the mates "commanded vicariously" Melville implies

65
66 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

that a) they were too stringent b) someone else really gave the orders
c) they took pleasure in giving orders d) the crew was obstreperous

Questions
'ili"'ir",, are highty injurious to the progress of science, for they often
endure long; but false views, if supported by some evidence, do little
harm, for everyone takes a salutary pleosure in proving their falseness
and when this is done, one path towards error is closed and the road to
truth is often at the some time opened.
Dorwin
-Charles
8. The harm of false views is in Darwin's opinion a) blatant b) ingenuous
c) ephemeral d) imponderable

9' A salutary pleasure a) is enjoyed alone b) is intellectually demanding

c) enervates scientists d) has benign results

10. His demeanor was exceedingly capricious and even grotesque.

-Edgar Allan Poe
The behavior of a capricious person is a) erratic b) offensive c) incorrigible
d) beguiling

ll. I had myformidable goot-skin coat on, with the greot cap I have men-
tioned, a naked sword by my side, two pistols in my belt, ond a gun upon
each shoulder.

-DonielDefoe
The writer's coat is a) ankle-length b) furry c) impressive d) antiquated
12- He must persuade himself thar Death can be propitiated, circumvented,
abolished.
Shaw Bernord
-George
circumvented here means a) delayed b) evaded c) eliminated d) conquered

13. The arguments employed are of very different value: some are important
and sound, others ore confused or quibbling.
Bertrand Russell
The arguments of little value mentioned by Russell are either confused or a) of
minor importance b) logically unsound c) out of date d) turgid

14. There is accordingly something outside of the artist to which he owes

allegionce, a devotion to which he musl surrender and sacrifice himself in
order to earn and to obtain his unique position.
S. Eliot
-7.
According to Eliot's statement a) artists should be amenable to criticism
b) good artists are credulous c) the position of the artist belongs to him
alone d) artists should flaunt their independence

Questions l5 and 16.

I began to understand why storkfield emerged from its six months' siege
like a storved garrison capitulating without quarter. Twenty years earlier
 ReviewTest2 / 67

lhe meons ol resistance must have beenfartewer, and the enemy in com'
mand of almost att the tinesof occess between the beleoguered vil-
lages " "
-Edithwharton
b) negotiating c) holding out
15. capitulating means a) surrendering
d) retreating

16. The narrator describes the villages as if they were a) averse

to surviving
hardships b) ameliorating c) isolated and under siege d) in a
federation

Questions l7-19.
WehavethusforendeavoredrudelytotrocethegenealogyoftheVerte.
*dir mutuot affinities. We will now look to man os he
brota by the aid o7
exbts; and we shitt, t think, be oble partiolty to restore the
structure of
ourearlyprogenitors. . . .
_charlesDarwin

lT.Byhisownaccount,Darwinhastriedtodescribea)man'shistoryb)the
population
structure of vertebrates c) the augmenting of an animal
d) the lines of descent of the vertebrates
Affinities here means a) similarities b) affections c) traits
d) locations
８
    ９

Progenitors are a) distant cousins b) anthropologists c) direct ancestors

d) early varieties

20.Animmediateresultofthepromulgationoftheevolutiontheory anotomye'
was . . . to give on immense impulse to comporotive
G'. froz*

Promulgation here probably means a) general opprobrium

b) wide
acceptance c) rational basis d) tendency
 Ⅲ SSON 21

Ten nouns for naming people:

thrall-slave, serf . Frank is a throll
to his television set on Sundoys during the foot-
ball seoson. There is also the verb enthrall, which means -..enslave
or capti_
vate," as in: we were so enthrailed by the movie that we
courdn,t go out for
poworn.
raconteur-skilled storyteller. A raconteur knows how to time punchlines
mum effect. Raconteur has been borrowed unchanged from for maxi-
French. In French
a female storyteller is a racontezse, but in Engtisi'it is acceptable
to use the
masculine form for everybody.
consort-wife or husband, especially of a monarch. The consort
shores in the
honors of the nuler.
muckraker-reporter or publisher who exposes scandal
or corruption in public life.
Thomas Nast was a muckraker who-used poriticar
cartooni to the cor_
ruption of New york,s Tommany Hall. "*po*
yehoo-man as a filthy, degraded, ignorant,
or vicious brute. yahoos in the stonds
yelled obscenities and threw beer bottles ot the ployers.
pariah-outcast, person scorned and therefo..
.*tlui.d. Her disreputabb, rilthy
clothes ond disoriented manner morked her as
on, ol riili"ti;s parians. poriah
entered Engrish from India, where it originafly
referred roi-p"rron of a very
low, hereditary social caste.
gamln-street urchin, an impoverished and
neglected child who lives in the streets.
The gomins of Miton make a tiving by begeins "'
and by petty ,i"i.
nemesb-person who pursues for vengeance or
exacts retribution, one who works
tirelessly for another's harm or punishme Amons the mythic figures of the
old west is the r-one R_angerjriend of the 1t.
napt"ii iii i"^"rr, of outraws.
In Greek mythology, Nemesis is the godder, ,"io
arogant mortals.
,"i", out ovine justice to
interloper-meddler, an outsider who interferes where he or
she has no right or busi-
ness. Ten years after the wedding the otd woman stitt
regardei her daughter_in_
law as on interloper in thefami\.
wiseacrt-person who deludes himself that he knows everything,
' believes he is impressing peopre when in n" * poriuririii"a fool. A wiseacre
fact an idiot.

ETEROISE I synonymr. Draw a line connecting each word

with rhe word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.

68
 LessOn 21 / 69

l. interloper tellerofanecdotes
2. gamin Pursuer
3. wiseacre meddler
4. muckraker exPoserofgraft
5. consort foul brute
6. yahoo street ragamuffin
7' thrall serf
8. raconteur outcast
9. nemesis marriage Partner
10. pariah fool

EIEIIISE II Circte the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
l.Apariahisa)acastawayb)fetedc)elegantlygarbedd)ostracized
2. A wiseacre a) enviable b) a witty conversationalist c) a self+nchanted
is
buffoon d) a sage
3. A yahoo seems a) debonair b) highly educated c) subhuman
d) affable
4. A raconteur is generally a) an entertaining guest b) a wise counselor
c) a person of no talent d) painfully shy
5. A nemesis is persistent in a) meddling in other people's business b) telling
stories c) digging up information d) stalking his prey
6. A consort is a) an outcast b) someone's spouse c) a nation's ruler
d) a
parent
7. An interloper is similar to a) a busybody b) a prizefighter c) a mar'
riage-broker d) a jogger
8. A gamin, by definition, is a) charming b) an orphan c) cunning d) a
juvenile
9. A thrall is a person a) in bondage b) who seeks thrills c) of repulsive
asPect d) who has mastered a skill
10. A muckraker is usually a) a government employee b) a heavy drinker
c) a rePorter d) a Pervert

EIEACISE III Fro. the following list of names' pick a term to match the de-
rcription given in each of the sentences below. write the names in the blanks'
yahoo gamin
raconteur interloPer
consort nemesls
thrall wiseacre
muckraker Pariah
that they
l. Their older brother kept the children entertained by his tall tales so
didn't get cranky during the long delay'
70 / Essential Vocabulary for College_Bound Students

2. Prince Albert was the husband of England's eueen victoria.

3. Her investigative reports led to the indictment of several public officials for
conspiracy to fix prices.
4. In one of Boccaccio's stories, a ludicrous doctor from Bologna boasts of his
learning and brilliance even while he's being duped uy two Florentine
painters.
5. Though it's none of her affair, Alicia always tries to tell us how to run the
council.
6. Because of his heretical opinions and demented outbursts, almost everyone in
the village crossed the street when they saw him coming.
7。 She was in the grip of an obsession, unable to break free or to make a ra-
tional choice.
8. Refusing to give up the chase, the detective swore to pursue the suspect to
the ends of the earth.
9. The child seemed to have no other home than an alleyway, where she
huddled for warmth at night with a handful of other waifs.

10. Hating everything more civilized than himself, he took a mindless joy
in
slashing the exquisite canvases.

Nrmes Borrowed from Llterature

The word muckroker comes from Bunyan's pilgrim,s progress, a seventeenth-
century allegory of christian salvation immensely popular with generations of
English readers. christiana, the heroine of the second pait, sees a man with a muck-
rake who only looks downward. When offered a heavenly crown in exchange for
his
rake, "the man did neither look up nor regard, but raked to himself the stiaws, the
small sticks, and dust of the floor." In 1906 Teddy Roosevelt revived the term by
calling someone a muckraker, and the word has been used ever since to describe peo-
ple who dig up political dirt.
Yahoo was coined by Jonathan Swift in his eighteenth-century satire Gulliver's
Travels. on his last voyage, Gulriver comes ashore in the land of ihe Houyhnhnms,
a race of horses free of passions and blessed with perfect reason. The horses are
masters of the Yahoos, a degenerate race of men without speech or reason. Lewd,
filthy, and vicious, the Yahoos like to scramble up trees to pelt Gulliver with their
excrement. In the end, the odious yahoos turn culliver against mankind for good.
when he returns to England, he can't bear to be in the r"ri roorn even with his
own
family and spends most of his time out in the stable with his horses.
 LESSON 22

The nouns in this lesson name things'

justification for
earlier event, eipecially one used as a model or
-- -
precedent-similar
precedents cited by the
present action. The lawyer's brief argued that the legal
oppositionwerenotrelevantbecauseofsubsequentchangesinthelaw.The
precedent is something whichhas preceded present events'
judgment or
tribunal-any court of law, especially when conceived as a seat of
justice.AninternationaltribunalconvenedatNuremburgtotryGermanlead.
ers for war crimes.
chronology-arrangementbytime,listofeventsbydate'Thebookincludeda politicol
chriiology oj *, po"i,, life against the background of the moior
events of his age. The Greek (time) likewise gives us chronic (occurring
c hronos
chronometer
over a long time), chronicle (a history written in time order), and
(a time-measuring device-a highly accurate clock)'
to
quorum-minimum n-umber of members that must be present for an assembly
enough representatives
conduct business. No votes may be taken until there ore
present to conslitute o quorum'
she as'
bibliography-a list of sources of information on a particular subject' published
on early Americon history
sembted a bibliography of major works
since 1960. ettnough tt. Cr.et root biblion means "book," a bibliography
may include other sources besides books-articles on microfiche,
for instance'
the united states archives in
archives-historic record s. A separate building houses
l{ashington.
dichotomy or
dichotomy-division of one thing into two parts, often opposed- The
efficient work in either
his position-holf instructoi, hoy od*inistrator-mode
field impossible.
usually within
schism-a sflit, break-up, especially over a difference in doctrine and
into two branches, now
a church. The Greit Schism split medievol Christianity
called Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic'
Hitler's
hegemony-predominance, exclusive leadership, especially among nations.
aim was German hegemony over the world'
the whole or
epitome-a summary, ari abstract, an individual part taken to represent
class. fIe prepared on epitome of his work to show the editor. Epitome comes

from a Greek word meaning "to cut short." The verb form is epitomize.
referendum-the holding of a vote in which the entire electorate instead of
its repre-
con override the deci-
sentatives decides oi a public issue. .4 state referendum
sion of the legislature. Referendum comes from the same Latin root as refer,
In referendum, a public issue is re-
which literally means "to carry back." a
ferred or carried back to the ultimate public authority, the voters'

71
72 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EXEI0ISE I choose the best word to complete each sentence. write it in the
blank.
1.AlthOugh the regime was able tO subvert the judicial prOcess within its Own
border, it was convicted in the of world opinion.
precedent tribunal
referendum chronology
2. Logical thought recognizes a between a thing and its
negation, as for instance between true and untnte.
referendum hegemony
schism dichotomy
3. At its height, Roman extended across Europe as far north
as Scotland.
hegemOny archives
bibliOgraphy tribunals
4. A(n) treatment of historical material makes clear the se-
quence of specific events but dOes little to clarify the long_term causes Of
social upheavals.
archival bibliographical
schismatic chronological
5. The student consulted a to discover what criticism had
been written about the novelist's works.
bibliography chronology
dichotomy quorum
6. The constitution of the student council specifies that two-thirds of the
membership shall constitute a(n)
hegemony archives
quorum epitome
7. The voters of the state endorsed the tax reform by a
referendum schism
precedent quorum
E. In a(n) over basic philosophy, the party split into two
rival factions.
quorum dichotomy
schism epitome
9. Anthologies attempt to present a(n) of an author's work.
referedum precedent
bibliography epitome
10. The uncatalogued of the historical society could be a gold
nline for anyOne researching the early settlement Of the territOry.
dichotomy hegemony
tribunal archives
There is no for this event: nothing like it has ever hap-
pened before.
chronology precedent
hegemony epitome
 Lesson22 / 73

EXEBGISE II Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
l. Quorum refers to a) trials b) number of convictions c) number of
members d) tYPe of legislature
2. A precedent is a) an earlier instance b) something present c) something
forgotten d) an outcome
3. An epitome a) indexes b) infers c) links d) summarizes
4. Hegemony is a kind of a) power b) resistance c) business d) plant
5. A dichotomy involves a) opposed halves b) churches c) training
d) holders of Public office
6. Bibliographies list a) historical events b) sources of information c) court
cases d) addresses
7. Archives are most likely to interest a) voters b) politicians c) historians
d) the aged
judgment
8. A tribunal is a place of a) historical interest b) worship c)
d) research
9. A referendum is a kind of a) recall b) list c) resource d) vote
10. A schism usually involves a conflict of a) beliefs b) facts c) schedules
d) tastes
I l. chronological order is a) sequential b) ahistorical c) short
d) alphabetical

ETEBCISE III F.om memory, try to complete the following sentences with
words from this lesson. The first letter of each answer is given before the blank.
Write your answers in the blanks.
l. An earlier case in which the same law was interpreted by the court may s€rve
as a [pl

2. In the Hollywood films of the thirties, Marlene Dietrich was the

leI of the sultry, sophisticated temptress.
3. Recordsof geolbgical expeditions spanning several decades are stored in the
museum's [a]
4. The Monroe Doctrine declared United States [h] over the
western hemisPhere.
5. The proposition will appear as a [r] on the ballot in
November.
6. The book included a [b] listing all the works that the
author had cited.
7. The Reformation at the end of the Middle Ages marked a permanent
lsl between the Catholic and Protestant churches.
74 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

8. A head count of the assembly determined that there was a

〔
q] present.

9' I know in general what happened, but I'm uncertain about the
卜] of events.
10. If a President is impeached, he must be tried in the
[t] Of
the Senate.
11. Analyses Of the human cOnditiOn in the wcst frequcntly rcst On a
[d] such as body and soul or matter and spirit.

LESSON 23

This lesson and the next one are comprised of verbs.

satiate-gratify completely, surfeit. Employees ot candy factories soon get so soti-
ated thal they never eat the stuff. The state of complete gratification in which
desire is extinguished is satiety.
ensconce-place in a comfortable or secure position. Ensconced in an eosy chair, he
spent the evening reading his favorite Hardy novel. Ensconce etymologically
means "to place in a small fortification"; it still suggests a position oi srug
safety.
disparage-speak slightingly of, belittle. A teacher who disparages the efforts of be-
ginners in o subject is not helping them.
commiserste-feel or express sympathy or pity for. It is natural to commiserate with
the innocent victim of an accident.
belie-lie about, misrepresent, show to be false, fail to fulfill. Her laughing/ace be-
lied her pretense of annoyance. In this sentence betied means ,.showed to be
false. " In the senten ce, Her words belied her thoughts, belied means,,disguised
or lied about." With belie, you must determine from the context which mean-
ing is appropriate.
reminisce-recall past events, remember, especially to talk about the past in a fond
or nostalgic way. When old college chums get together they like to reminisce
about their undergraduate adventures.
vacillate-fluctuate, change back and forth, be inconsistent. The employer's man-
ner vacillated between oppressive friendliness and peremptory command.
inundate-flood, overwhelm. when the craze wos at its height, the police were inun-
dated daily with reports of uFo sightings. Based on a Latin word undo (wave),
inundate literally means "to flood or cover in waves." A river overflows its
banks and inundates the fields. But the word is very often used figuratively, as
in: The company wos inundated with orders.
metamorphose-transform, change radically in form or character. Two months
obroad metamorphosed him from o naive youth into o mon of the wortd. The
noun meaning transformation is metamorphosrs, plural metamorphoses.
 Lesson23 / 75

The
allude-refer indirectly or by suggestion, refer to without naming explicitly'
srlier docament that we have been unoble to locate or even
book alludes to an
identdy. An act of alluding is allusion. Don't confuse this word with elude'
ttescape.t'

EXERCISE I Synonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in mean-
ing to the given word.
l. commiserate: a) be instrumental b) sympathize c) earn a commission
d) be miserable

2. belie: a) reveal as false b) underlie c) resemble Q lie to

3.alludeto:a)beshyb)mentionindirectlyc)harpond)condemn
4. reminisce: a) send back b) reduce in size c) talk about the past d) nag
5. vacillate: a) be devoid of interest b) tremble c) be unswerving O
go
back and forth
6. satiate: a) spill over b) satisfy to the limit c) weaken d) relax
?. metamorphose: a) change form b) change one's mind c) overdose
d) mythologize
8. inundate: a) vibrate b) flood c) sink d) move like a wave
9. ensconce: a) position snugly b) sink c) kindle o defend vigorously
10. disparage: a) discard b) cancel c) put down Q bombard

EIEIfiISE II Choore the best word to complete each sentence. Write it in the
blank.
l. A parent who is alternately too strict and too indulgent is one who

vacillates reminisces
satiates belies

2. Because they are PeriodicallY by the Nile, the fields are

productive.
satiated alluded to
ensconced inundated

3. The transformation of an ugly duckling into a gaceful swan is a(n)

metamorphosis inundation
vaclllation disparagement

4. His disparagins comments about television his own

fascination with the medium.
ensconce belie
vacillate commiserate
76/ Esscntial Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

5. The author's adoption of the name Ishmael is a(n) to the

Biblicd Ishmael, an outcast and a wanderer.
allusion satiety
vacillation metamorphosis
5. Having comfortably the invalid on the couch, the nurse
went into the kitchen to make tea.
belied ensconced
reminisced alluded to
7. We had eaten ltalian pastries to the point of We couldn't
even think about supper.
metamorphosis inundation
satiety commiseration
Joanne's of those days were bathed in a nostalgic glow:
they were not at all the way Bill remernbered things.
commiserations disparagements
reminiscences vacillations
9. Anyone who suffers such misfortunes deserves some
disparagement allusion
ensconcing commiseration

EIEBCISE III
F.o,n memory, try to comprete the folrowing sentences with
words from this lesson. The first letter of ans*e, is given Eefore the blank.
Write your answers in the blanks. "a"h
l. The professor mystified most of the class by
[a]
economic theories they had no acquaintance with.
2. The outbreak of renewed hostilities [bl our hopes for an
early ceasefire.
3. We met at a coffee shop to [c] over the difficulty of the
assignments.
4. Jealousy caused her to [d] the appearance of her rival.
5。 Ha宙 ng received the appOintment as a political payott he spent many years
lel at public expense in a Job that pald weu and
dmanded little.

6. Every year at this time the department is [i] with requests

for extensions: it seerns everyone needs more time to finish his paper.
7. Wrapped in its cocoon, the caterpillar
will [m] into a
butterfly.
Most people learn about their family histories by listening to older
members

9. Three movies and a concert in a single week can

[s]
anyone's desire for entertainment.
10. Some people who [v] endlessly over trivial matters can
nevertheless make momentous decisions quickly and decisively.
 Lesson 24 /77
Metamorphoses
A metamorphosis is a radical change. Biologists use the word to label the transfor-
mation cert;in animals undergo-pupa into adult insect, tadpole into frog' At about
and
the time of Christ, the Latin poet Ovid used it to refer to shape changes in-Gree-k
i;;; myths. Fiir tong poem called the Metamorphoses is an encyclopedia of
gods
transformations. Men and women are turned into trees, birds, snakes, flowers;
disguise their shapes to meddle in human affairs; heroes are raised to the heavens
as
world itself, as an orderly cosmos' has metamorphosed from primeval
stais. The
chaos and remains in constant flux. Although everything is threatened
with transfor'
mation, though everything passes away, the poet hopes by his work to make his
name immortal.

LESSON Z

trsvetse-cross and recross, go back and forth ovet. For days the ship traversed the
oreo, seorchingfor the lost wholing boot.
emanate-derive, issue foth. American law emonates largelyfrom English common
law.
corroborate-provided added proof. Lows ol evidence require that testimony on a
crime be corroborated by other circumstonces'
dissemble-conceal or misrepresent the true nature of something. He dissembled his
reol motives under a pretense of unselfish concern'
stultify-make appear or feel stupid, absurd, or useless. The hot, smoky atmosphere
of the room was stultifying: no one could concentote on the work.
ossify-become bone, become rigidly set in a pattern, habit, or custom' Theflexible
timbs of the infant were not yet completely ossified'
proscribe-outlaw, forbid by law. Theft is proscribedfor the most part by state low'
poison'
ascribe-attribute, assign as a cause or source. His deoth was ascribed to
Ascribe and proscribe ate both derived from the Latin verb scribere, "to
write." Amopg the many other descendants of siibere are scrtpt, describe,
inscribe, subscribe, and scribble -
vilify-defame, attempt to degrade by slander. The man wos suedfor attempting to
vilW the physician.
inure-harden or accustom to difficulty or pain.,4 life of hord physical lobor has in-
ured them to pettY discomforts.

EIERIISE I Synonyms. Circle the word or phrase closest in meaning to the

given word.
l. traverse: a) double-cross b) crisscross c) crosshatch d) crossbreed
7t / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

2. corroborate: a) support b) corrode c) fabricate d) testify

3. dissemble: a) forget b) adjourn a meeting c) feign d) differ
4. inure: a) eschew b) calcify c) deplete d) accustom
5. vilify: a) brag b) premeditate c) attack a reputation d) supplant
6. proscribc: a) make illegar b) write an order for c) eradicate
d) underwrite
7. stultify: a) intrigue b) make stupid c) deprecate d) enliven
8. emanate: a) allude b) derive c) retrogress d) mimic
9. ossify: a) terrify b) melt c) harden d) decay
10. ascribe: a) attribute b) authorize c) substitute d) cause

¨ ⅡFill in the blanks from the list Of wOrds be10w.

stultified proscribed
ascribed ossified
traversed corroborated
dissembled inured
emanated vilified
l. We have this terrain many times in our discussions but so
far have been unable to reach a satisfactOry cOmpromise.

2. The possession of an unlicensed handgun is by statute in

this city.
3. Early feminists were frequently in the press as comical and
unnatural harridans.
4. The candidate's letter only the opinion I had already
formed of him: I was more convinced than ever that his election would be
disastrous for the state.
5. He was not a handsome man; his great attractiveness from
a forceful and exuberant personality rather than physical app€arance.
6. She soon felt by the turgid and lackluster prose: after
twenty nlinutes Of studying she put the tetttb00k dOWn and drOpped off tO
sleep.

7. Envious rivals her success to sheer ruthlessness.

-
8. Discovered in the moonlit courtyard by the murderer, the heroine
her real reason for being out so late by pretending that
she had heard a crash.
9. Iamso to her complaints that I don't even hear them
anymore.
10. The rules of the game had become so by custom that no
one even considered whether they could be improved.
 Lesson 24 / 79

EIIERCISE III Antonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase most nearlY its oPPosite.

l. vilify go back to a source

2. inure soften
3. dissemble require legallY
' 4. stultify disPute
5. corroborate make brilliant
6. proscribe be forthright
7. ossify sensitize
8. emanate exalt

with
EIIERGISE fU Frorn memory, try to complete the following sentences
given before the blank'
words from this lesson. The firit letter of each answer is
Write your answers in the blanks.
l. His happiness can be [al to his forthcoming wedding.
the victim's
2. An impartial eyewitness came forward to [c]
version of the accident.
3. Although she tried out of shyness to [d] her feelings, love
*as obuiout in the way she gazed at the older boy'

4. We could not locate the source of the alarm in our building; it seemed to
lel from the store across the street.
people to grislY
5. Working in an emergency room must [i]
sights.

6. Over the years,doCtrines that begin as■ cXible and reSponsive attempts to
serve present needs tend to [ol into rigid prescriPtion.

7. The drugs scheduled by the FDA are [p] for sale except bY

a doctor's PrescriPtion.
8. The tedious lecture had so [sl the class that theY couldn't
come uP with a single question'

9. The hunters knew every foot of the river, having [t]

manY times in Pursuit of game'
her former colleague by spreading rumors of
10. She had [v]
his avarice and incomPetence'
same Latinfocere
The ifyending of many verbs means "to make." It is from the
(to ma[i) that gives usfoctory and munificent (see Lesson I l)'
Since srulras means " foolish, " stultify means
Since os means "bone," osst/y means
Since vilrs means "vile," vilify means
Withoutlooking thenl up,you can easily analyze the roots of
beautify
glorify
solidify
falsify
signify
80 / Essential Vocabulary for College_Bound Students

Now try to guess the root meanings of the following words. Use your dictionary
to
check your answers. In each case, does the etymological (root) meaning reflect
the
way we really use the word?
mortify
sanctify
deify
reify
petrify
rectify
calcify

LESSON 25

The adjectives in this lesson all describe sense experiences-sight,

hearing, touch,
smell, and taste.
impervious-not able to be permeated or penetrated, therefore not
open to influence
or able to be affected. wood is orten treoted with afinish, such
as wax or pory-
urethane, to make it imperyious to water.
luminous-bright, shining, bathed in light or giving off light. The night
was clear
and luminousfrom thefuil moon.
torrid-uncomfortably hot, scorching, parched by heat. Death vailey is
reputed to
have the most torrid temperotures of any prace in the united
stotes.
dulcet-sweet-sounding, soft and soothing to hear. It wos pleasant
to wake to the
dulcet chiming of the belts.
resonrnt-echoing, full-sounding, vibrating to a sound and thereby
amplifying it.
The cello, like other sffinged instruments, consists of a resonant
box over which
strings are stretched to ditferent pitches.
palatable-tasty, pleasing to the taste. The woter was
stightty greenish but stilt
palatable.
effervescent-bubbling, foaming, therefore vivacious, lively. carbonoted
beverages
are effemescent.
malleable-able to be shaped, adaptable. Gold, a soft metal, is highty malleable.
fetid-evil-smelling, stinking. The fetid smeil o! ritting garbagi permeated
the al-
ley.
gossamer-filmy, very soft and light, thin. The gossamerfabricfett
as tight as a cob-
web.
verdant-green with vegetation, fresh with plant life. The verdant lawn
made the old
house look beoutiful.
 Lesson 25 / 81

EIEBCISE I Antonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
l. effervescent: a) flat
b) tepid c) boiling d) sublime
2. gossamer: a) semitransparent b) resilient c) wintry d) thick
3. resonant: a) parched b) sound-deadening c) stiff d) audible
4. impervious: a) rocklike b) lifelike c) spongelike d) wet
5. verdant: a) summery b) sere and brown c) tried and true d) blooming
6. malleable: a) rotten b) unbending c) nonmetallic d) liquid
7. dulcet: a) sour-tasting b) bitter c) strident d) restless
8. luminous: a) darkened b) unpleasant c) harsh-sounding d) horrific
9. torrid: a) unrestrained b) untwisted c) clean d) frigid
10. palatable: a) in poor taste b) evil-smelling c) inedible d) flowery
ll. fetid: a) icy b) fragrant c) postnatal d) nervous

EXEBCISE II Choose the best word to complete each sentence. Write it in the
blank.
l. Since had been left uncovered, the clay had dried and was no
it
longer
fetid palatable
malleable verdant

2. The novel was advertised as a romance of unbridled

passions and burning desire.
gossamer dulcet
torrid Palatable

3. When the child saw his mother returning, his face became
宙th joy.
l【 npervlous luminous
fetid resonant

4. Wastes drained into a(n) sewer that ran down the middle
of the street.
torrid luminous
effervescent fetid

5. The cave was so that even the slightest whisper echoed

loudly.
resonant impervious
dulcet luminous

5. The meal, though not fancY, was and the salad was
especiallY delicious.
Palatable luminous
verdant effervescent
82 / Essential Vocabulary for COnege_BOund Students

7. Worn and cracked with age, the tarp was no longer to

rain.
effervescent resonant
impervious malleable
8. The dancers were dressed in long, skirts that floated as
they moved.
resonant malleable
dulcet gossamer
9. mixers such as tonic or soda water make alcohol enter the
bloodstream faster.
Cossamer Effervescent
Palatable Impervious
10. In May the fields are with the young crops.
fetid torrid
gossamer verdant
I l. The harpsichord has a tinkling, sound best suited to small
chamber performances.
malleable torrid
dulcet palatable

EIIERCISE III rrom memory, try to comptete the following sentences with words
from this lesson. The first letter of each answer is given before the blank. Write your
answers in the blanks.

l. Children are more [m] than adults and adapt to new

environments lnore readily.

2. In his dream the man was approached by a [ll figure,

blindingly bright, whom he rook to be an angel.
3. She is [i] to criticism because she doesn't care what
other people think.
4. During the rainy season the landscape becomes [v]
burgeoning with fresh life.
5. He did not, for the most part, find German Romanticism
tpl , and the music of Wagner positively turned
his stomach.
6. The evangelist denounced the city as a new Babylon, a
[fl
sink of corruption and vice.
7. The [d] melodious entrance of the English horn
contrasted with the brassy sound of the trumpets.
8. At the party we were in an [e] mood, bubbling with
excitement and eager to dance.
9. By ten o'clock the highway was [tl the heat rising visibly
from the asphalt.
 Lesson 26 /81
10. The gown was of silkY' [gt material, so fine as to be
almost weightless.
I l. A well-trained, [r] voice can fill a concert hall without
electronic amPlification.

EIEACISE [V Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. A resonant concert hall is a) luxuriously accoutred b) acoustically
live c) commodious d) impervious to extraneous noise
2. A palatable dish is a) baked b) unique c) highly spiced d) savory
3.Ifthefiguresinapaintingappearonaverdantbackground,thesceneis
proUaUty a) outdoors b) northern European c) stylized
d) imPressionistic
4.Afetidodorisa)inexorableb)vernalc)exoticd)repulsive
5. An example of a gossamer fabric is a) chiffon b) serge c) twill
d) linen
6. An effervescent personality tends not to be a) malleable b) imperviously
calm c) adaPtive d) excitable
7. The pleasing babble of a stream sounds a) torrid b) resonant c) dulcet
d) luminous

LESSON 26

This lesson and the next introduce a variety of adjectives'

wos execrable,
execreble-extremely bad, hateful, detestable. Atthough her acting
oll her retotives in the oudience applauded'
wos
invetente-long and firmly established, entrenched. The distttrst o.f loreigners
inveterate omong the notive inhobitonts'
prfp"Uf"-"ble to be-felt, touched, or perceived distinctly, clear to the senses or the
mind. A drop in temperoture was palpoble five minuta after they turned on the
touch," so strictly speaking
air conditionlng. Thi Latin verbpa lpare means "to
patpable meani "able to be touched,".though it is often used more loosely for
palpate is
anything that can be unquestionably perceived. The related wotd
used by medical professionals to mean "examine by touching"'
84 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

sable-black, dark. The gentleman's servants were dressed in sabte tivery as a sign of
mourning. The soble is a small mammal valued for its dark fur. Its name, used
by extension to mean "dark" or "black," is appried especially to things like
fabric, hair, or fur.
pristine-untouched, unspoiled, in a state of original perfection or pwity. The
wilderness looked pristine, as if they were the first people ever to set
foot there.
endemlc-peculiar to or prevalent in an area or group. Severe lung diseose is
endemic in coal-mining regions,
pandemlc-universal, found everywhere or over an entire large region, especially
epidemic over a large area. Malaria used to be pandemic in the tropicat regiois
of the earth. The three words epidemic, endemic, and pandemrc are all used to
describe conditions-often diseases-among populations (Greek demos,,,peo-
ple"). Epidemrc connotes a prevalent condition that spreads rapidly. Ar\
epidemic may affect a large number of people but be over quickly . Eidemic de-
scribes a persistent, long-term condition found in a limited area. If a condition
is found over a very large area, it is pondemic.
multitudinous-very numerous. The main design has been agreed upon, but there
are multitudinous details still to be worked out. Multitudinous is derived from
the noun multitude,,,great number.,'
sentlent-able to feel or perceive, having sense perception or consciousness. All
sentient creatures respond to their environments.
sonorous-resonant, having a rich, deep, full sound. His sonorous voice helped
make him afamous orator.
succulent-juicy. Plums ought to be sweet and succulenr. In botany, plants with
juicy flesh, such as cacti, are calledsucculents.

E[EnflSE t Antonyms. circre the rerter of the word or phrase mostopposite

in meaning to the given word.
l. endemic: a) free from disease b) firmly established c) unknown in a
given area d) extroverted
2. multitudinous: a) facile b) united c) unitarian d) few
3. sonorous: a) tinny b) Ioud c) tawny d) lewd
4. pristine: a) populated b) sullied c) austere d) decorated
5. palpable: a) without merit b) imperceptibre c) uncomfortabre
d) imperturbable
6. pandemic: a) tranquil b) resistant c) autocratic d) rimited in scope
7. inveterate: a) venerable b) welr founded c) newly introduced
d) reasonable
8. succulent: a) desiccated b) malleable c) preserved d) cooked
9. sable: a) hairless b) well lit c) light in color d) altering rapidly
10. execrable: a) immaculately clean b) astonishing c)
iustry despised
d) admirable
ll. sentient: a) unconscionable b) silly c) without sensation d) rarely
found
 Lcsson26 / ts

EIERCISE II Ct oose the best word to complete each sentence. Write it in the
blank.
l. He traced his hatred of arbitrary discipline to the traumas
he suffered as a child in an old-fashioned boarding school.
sentient pandemic
endemic inveterate

2.The leaves of the aloe plant are soothing for minor burns.
sonorous sable
succulent execrable

3. things are often compared to the grains of sand on a

beach or the stars in the skY.
Inveterate Palpable
Execrable Multitudinous

4. Since researchers have detected pollutants in the atmosphere over the most
sparsely inhabited southwestern deserts, they have concluded that air
pollution is in the United States.
pandemic
. execrable
endemic multitudinous

5。 Although their intelligence is minimal, even fish are

creatures.
multitudinous inveterate
sentient succulent

6. The acoustic qualities of the cathedral made even reedy voices

seem _-.
sable sonorous
sentient multitudinous

7. Wrapped in a cloak, the woman was almost invisible in

the darkness.
succulent pristine
sable PalPable

8. As the star emerged suddenly onto the stage' the excitement in the crowd was
almost like a shock of electricitY.
pandemic PalPable
execrable pristine

9. The sight of a sheet of paper waiting in the typewriter

first thing in the morning has driven many writers to drink'
pristine sable
sentient sonorous

10. By professional standards the snapshots were they were

poorly framed and not a single one was in focus.
succulent endemic
palpable execrable

For rnany years hepatitis has been to the southern shore

of Lake Atitlan.
endemic pandemic
pristine sonorous
86 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EIER0ISE III Synonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.

l. succulent very bad

2. palpable conscious
3. sonorous long prevalent in one place
4. endemic full sounding
5. sentient touchable
6. pandemic full of juice
7. execrable black
8. multitudinous deeply ingrained
9. pristine unspotted
10. inveterate of great number
I l. sable prevalent over a large area

LESSON 27

dlletory-slow, delaying, especially for the purpose of gaining time or postponing

action. Afilibuster is one type of dilatory tactic that can delay oction on a bill.
culpable-faulty, deserving of blame. The culpable shall not escaw punishment.
Culpoble comes from the Latin noun culpa, meaning .,guilt" or .,crime.',
laudable-praiseworthy. The girl listened to the old mon's endless and repetitive
stories with laudable potience. The Latin rcot loud means "praise," so laud-
able literally means "able to be praised." Another word built on the same root
is
leudatory-expressing praise. Grociotu in victory, the condidate made loudatory
comments about the opposition.
archaic-no longer in use, of an earlier period. some words like thou, once a com-
monform of address, are now archaic.
fallible-capable of erring or of being deceived in judgment . All humons are fallibte,
although some are mistaken more often thon others.
reticent-reserved, unwilling to speak. He was a shy boy, too reticent to participate
in the class discussion.
laconic-terse, pithy. His laconic replies conveyed much infew words. Reticent and
laconic both describe a habit of not talking much, but they connote different
things. A reticent woman is one who stays silent because she doesn't want to
communicate certain information, for whatever reason. Laconic suggests pack-
ing a lot of significance into a few words. The laconic speaker communicates
briefly but effectively.
voluble-very talkative, characterized by an easy flow of words. He was a voluble
speoker, never at a lossfor words.
 Lesson 27 / 81

tacit-silent, unspoken, implied rather than stated. They had a tocit agreement
never to mention the problem in front of the children. Unlike the previous three
entries, tacit is not used to describe people. lt applies only to things-promises,
alliances, ideas-that are understood by the people involved without being put
into words.
obdurate-hard, unyielding, hardhearted. The rsncher was obdurqte in resisting the
pleading of hisfriends. Obdurate may just mean very stubborn, but it frequent-
iy carries a negative connotation: an obdurate person is likely to be stubborn in
a bad cause or unyielding to compassion or pity. The dur root from Latin,
meaning "hard or lasting," is the same root that gives us durable'
tractable-easily led, directed, or controlled. A troctable worker is a boon to the
supervisor but is not usually o good leader. The Latin root tract means "draw"
or "pull." A tractable person is easy to pull along.

or phrase closest in mean-

EXERCISE I Synonyrns. Circle the letter of the word
ing to the given word.
l. tacit: a) silent b) polite c) tactful d) palpable
2.obdurate:a)argumentativeb)unbendingc)ill-advisedd)irrational
3. laudable: a) noisy b) ancient c) deserving
praise d) speechless

4.fallible:a)marredb)criminalc)capableoferrord)stumbling
d) refined
5. reticent: a) reserved b) deceptive c) slow-moving
d) docile
6. tractable: a) able to be traced b) deceptive c) slow-moving
7. laconic: a) verbose b) terse c) unspoken d) lazy
charged with
8. culpable: a) impeached b) guilty c) doubtful d)
negligence
d) concerning
9. laudatory: a) full of praise b) servile c) long-winded
hearing

voluble: a) gossiping b) enormous c) talkative d) taciturn

０
  １

political
dilatory: a) widening b) stalling c) collapsing d)
  ２

archaic: a) newfangled b) rounded c) useless d)

obsolete

EXERCISE II riu in rhe blanks from the lisr of words below.

voluble tacit
obdurate laconic
reticent tractable
laudable dilatory
archaic laudatory
fallible culpable

l. Although the President's proposal doesn't go as far as we would like, it is

beginning and deserves our support.
t8 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

2. Many older respondents especially are about answering

questions concerning their personal lives on questionnaires.

3. John Wayne was famous for his drawl: in some flrlms he

seems hardly to speak at all.

4. The crowd at the Fourth of July celebration was pleased and flattered by the
governor's speech about the people of her state.
5. The more Anne drinks, the more she becomes, until it's
impossible for anyone else to slip a word in edgewise.
6. Although no one had actually said so, there was a
understanding that the meeting had to end by midnight.
7. The government was in its refusal even to consider the
just demands of the strikers.
8. Even a computer is in that, if its initial data is wrong, its
conclusions will be wrong.
9。 His behavior was unconsciously aimed at postponing his
departure.
10. Everyone who exacerbated the situation is to some extent
for the tragedy that ensued.
I l. The poems of the elderly Drayton were in the style of an
earlier age.
12. Despite their bulk, oxen are animals, obedient and
relatively easy to control.

EIEBCISE III Antonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase most nearly its opposite.

l. fallible frank
2. dilatory contemporary
3. reticent tractable
4. tacit invariably correct
5. laudatory laudable
6. laconic condemning
7. culpable expeditious
8. archaic spelled out
9. obdurate voluble
The Latin tract (draw or pull) is at the root of many familiar English words. A
tractor, for instance, is literaily a machine for pulling. To contract is to pull togeth-
er, in other words, to shrink. Try to guess the literal or etymological meaning of
each of the verbs italicized below. Use your dictionary to check your answers.

The sloppiness of her syntax detracts from the power of her writing.

I was distracted from my work by the yelling in the street.

 Lesson 28 / 89

Travelers are attracted to the picturesque beauty of the region.

The dentist had to extract the tooth.

The hearings were protracted by the oratorical performances of individual

committee members.

The newspaper retracted the story and printed an apology.

LESSON 28

The twelve adjectives below describe the qualities and behavior of people.
blas6-jaded, bored, too accustomed to something, such as pleasure or excitement,
to show any interest. Having seen innumeroble horror fihs,
they were too
blos€ to be frightened by otd-fashioned ghost stories. Blasd comes from a
French word meaning "sated."
ascetic-practicing self-denial, austere. In accordance with their beliefs, the com-
lived an ascetic tile of hard physical labor, frugol meals, oid no stimu-
^uiity
lonts. Ascetic implies a deliberate self-denial of physical pleasures. A person
who goes hungry on purpose is ascetic; a person who goes hungry because he or
she can't afford food is Poor.
ebullient-very lively, bubbling over with energy or high spirits. The children, ebul-
lient at the prospect of o picnic, tumbled out of the bus the moment it stopped.
Since the Latin root ebutlire means "to boil up," ebullien, expresses the same
figurative meaning as the English word bubbly.
gauche-without social grace, tactless. They consider it gauche to ask acquaintances
how much they earn or how much they poidfor something'
proficient-capable, skilled, expert. Only someone entirely prolicient in both lang'
uoges can do simultoneous tronslation.
sutve-smoothly polite, very polished or sophisticated in social relations. His suave
monners reflected great confidence and poise.
insolent-openly disrespectful, impertinent. The teocher, who refused to tolerate in'
solent behavior, sent the pupil to the principal's olficefor tolking back in class'
obsequious-servile, overly willing to obey. His obsequious obedience to the con-
querors turned our stomochs.
choleric-quick to anger, short-tempered. The coach had a choleric personality and
w as freque n t ty ei ec ted fr o m ga mes fo r i nsul t i ng t he refe rees'
phlegmatic-unexcitable, slow to act, sluggish . On hearing that he had won two mil'
-lion
dollors in the lottery, the phlegmatic man looked mildly pleosed.
90 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

melancholy-habitually sad, depressed, gloomy, brooding. Abraham Lincoln was a

meloncholy figure, somberly dressed and rorely seen to smile. An alternative
form is melancholic.
sanguine-ardent, confident, optimistic. The spokesperson wos songuine about the
movement's chances for success.

EXER0ISE I riu in the blanks from the list of words below.

insolent obsequious
blas6 ebullient
sanguine proficient
melancholy gauche
suave phlegmatic
choleric ascetic
l. Someone who always finds something to be depressed about is by
nature
2. A person who expects things to improve is about the
future.
3. A(n) host knows how to put people at ease and how to
smooth over awkward moments.
4. Anyone who can type eighty words a minute is a(n) typist.
5. A young man who jeers at authority in general and insults his parents in
particular is
6. A woman who flies into a rage over trifles is
7. A person who disapproves of physical indulgence is
8. A guest who embarrasses people at a party by saying all the wrong things
and criticizing the food is
9. A person who by nature never seems to get worked up over anything
ls

10. Many people feel that it is a sign of sophistication to act

about sex.
ll. A(n) employee flatters the ego of an insecure boss.
12. A cheerleader appears when her team is winning.

EIIERGISE II Antonyms. circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
l. suave: a) foolish b) mentally unbalanced c) gauche d) decorous
2. melancholy: a) adept b) ominous c) slow-paced d) cheerful
3. blas6: a) excited b) pass6 c) demented d) ridiculous
4. obsequious: a) ebullient b) insolent c) joyous d) submissive
 Lesson2S / 9l

5. proficient: a) tired b) lazy c) inept d) poker-faced

6. choleric: a) serviceable b) phlegmatic c) monotone d) insufferable
7. ebullient: a) placid b) repetitious c) peaceable d) exhaustive
8. ascetic: a) sympathetic b) uncritical c) ugly d) self-indulgent
9. sanguine: a) pessimistic b) resentful c) diffident d) haughty

EIGBCISE III Ct oose the best word to complete each sentence. Write it in the
blank.
l. Though they could afford it, they were too to install a hot
tub.
melancholy proficient
ascetic gauche

,. r nourn'n" n* o'.,.n*;l jif.. she became

ljil:,:l"r:l,ff"tatch,
ebullient choleric
sanguine phlegmatic

3. Long experience had made the physician at quick

diagnoses.
ascetic sanguine
insolent proficient

4.The old storekeeper continually became enraged at the

insolent manners of his customers.
choleric gauche
blas6 phlegmatic

5。 In his long movie career, Cary Grant epitomized

sophistication.
choleric ascetic
melancholy suave

6。 While l take a(n) view of our financial prospects, I don't

think we can afford to go to Europe this year'
sanguine obsequious
blas6 insolent

7. Pierre became increasinglY as, one by one, his illusions

were shattered.
suave melancholy
sanguine ebullient

8. Carole was deferential to her superiors without being

proficient ascetic
obsequious ebullient

9. It was of them to try to drag other people into their

private squabble.
suave gauche
blasE phlegmatic
92 / Ettntial VOcabulary for C011ege‐ Bound Students

10. The judge was a calm, sort, though I did see him lose his
temp€r once.
obsequious insolent
choleric phlegmatic

Words from Medleval Medlcine

until modern times, medical theory in Europe held that four bodily fluids, called
humors, determined each person's physical and emotional health. The humors were
thought to be blood (Latin sanguis), choler (also called yellow bile), black bile
(Greek melancholia), and phlegm. Certain personality traits were said
to be caused
by an imbalance among the humors. rn a songuine person, blood was dominant; a
quick-tempered person was choleric;a sluggish, p htegmatic individual had
too much
clammy phlegm; and the melancholy man suffered from an excess of black bile.
Since in the medieval view each human being was a microcosm, or world in minia-
ture, the four humors were analogous to the four elements (earth, water, fire, and
air) that together made up the universe as a whole.

LESSON 29

The following terms are all Latin words and phrases that have been borrowed
un-
changed into English. If you are not sure how to pronounce any of them,
check your
dictionary. The literal meanings in Latin are given in parentheses.
alter ego-(other I) other self, person who represents another aspect of one,s
own
personality, a close friend or companion. As a child wos so afiached
I to my
sister that she seemed like my alter ego.
bona flde-(in good faith) genuine, honest, without deceit or fraud. Mony people
who saw the house expressed interest, but theirs was thefirct bonafide
offer.
moratorlum-(a delaying) the lawful delaying of a payment, as in an emergency,
any formally declared period of delay. Students declored o moratorium on
classesfor the week of the notionol strike.
de Jure-(according to right) according to law, legal though
not necessarily actual.
Although in power, the regime was not considered a gouerr*"nt de jure
by the
neighboring counffies.
de facto-(according to fact) actual as opposed to legal, in fact. Despite
having no
government title, he was the delacto heod of state.
8d toc-(to this) for a special purpose or occasion only. The ad hoc constitution
committee will be dissolved as soon as its job is accomprished.
modus vivendi-(way of living) a way of living, an arrangement conflicting parties
work out for getting along despite their differences. people who work in the
some office usually hove a modus vivendi by which they cin work together
even
if they don't like one another.
 Lcsson29 / 93

modus operandl-(way of operating) way of operating, the way something or some-

one works. Police refer to the particular method or style of a criminal as his
modus operandi, or m. o.
per rnnum-(by the year) every year, by the year. The membershipfee ls payable per
annum.
per diem-(by the day) every day, by the day. A private investigator is olten hired on
o per diem basis.
sine die-(without a day) without a day being set, usually, without a date for re-
convening appointed. Congress adiourned sine die-
alumnus-(foster child) a pupil or student, usually a former student who has gradu-
atd. We sent invitations to the class reunion to every alumnus tor whom we
hove an address. Alumnw is the masculine form; its plural is alumni. The fem-
inine form is alumno, pluralalumnae.

EIffi$ISE I Synonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in mean-
ing to the given term.
l. de jure: a) by legal right b) permanent c) former d) by jury
2. per diem: a) once b) for each person c) not nocturnal d) daily
3. de facto: a) facetious b) manufactured c) factitious d) actual
4. sine die: a) deathless b) timeless c) without setting a date d) tireless
5. bona fide: a) fraudulent b) done in good faith c) promised d) loyal
6. modus operandi: a) real circumstances b) how something works
c) conflict of opinion d) glamordus business
7. alumnus: a) graduate b) recruit c) professor d) professional
8. moratorium: a) concert hall b) death c) suspension of activity d) lack
of provision
9. alter ego: a) repressed anger b) second self c) radical alteration
d) self+onceit
10. ad hoc: a) entrenched b) temporizing c) extemporaneous d) temporary
ll. per annum: a) each day b) on salary c) yearly d) on commission
12. modus vivendi: a) criminal method b) means of smoothing over
differences c) cooperative apartment d) cooperative venture

EIER$ISE II Circte the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. A group is most likely to adjourn sine die a) when there is a deadlock
u) just before a long recess c) on principle d) when it is meeting
regularly
2. An ad hoc group is formed a) for a limited purpose b) by lot c) by
sccret ballot d) for subversive purposes

3. A modus vivendi is required when parties are a) in love b) in a meeting

c) in potential conflict d) at war
94 / Esscntial Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

4. A bona fide first edition of a book is a) leatherbound b) old c) in poor

condition d) a real first edition
5. one might describe as an alter ego a person who is a) an alien b) a
soulmate c) schizophrenic d) notorious
6. A person's modus operandi includes his or her a) wardrobe b) birth
certificate c) habitual conduct d) assets
7. The graduates of a women's co[ege are a) arumna b) arumnae
c) alumnus d) alumnuses
8. If it a) on a day-to-day basis
one rents a machine per diem, one has
b) for a month c) for an indefinite period of time d) for a year
9. The opposite of de jure is a) defunct b) per annum c) in default d) de
facto
10. One declares a moratorium in order to a) posit something b) flush out a
culprit c) postpone something d) test something

EIERCISE III From the following rist of rerms, pick the one most appropriate
to each of the sentences below. Write the terms in the blanks.
alumnus ad hoc
moratorium de facto
per diem per annum
de jure sine die
alter ego bona fide
modus vivendi modus operandi
l. Though we do not approve of their ideology or believe that they hold office
legally, we must recognize that they do in fact have firm control of the
nation's political institutions.
2. Mr. Hyde is the expression of the savage side of Dr. Jekyll,s nature.

3. As a graduate of the college he contributes to the scholarship fund.

4, The interest on the loan amounts to ninety dollars for one year.

5. He works nights and she works days, so they manage to share the apartment
without too much conflict.
6. when the meeting broke up, no date was set for the first fall session.

7. The council appointed a committee for the purpose of greeting the incoming
president.
8. Police suspect that the same person committed all the burglaries because in
every case the means of entry was the same.

9. on the verge of bankruptcy, the city government obtained legnl authority to

postpone repaying its loans.
 Lesson 30 / 95

10. Once suspected of being a forgery,the portrait is now knoWn to be genuine.

Although he has no power, many of his fellow exiles recognize him as the
rightful leader of their country.

LESSON 30

adopted without change

The following are twelve more Latin terms that have been
phrase in Latin is given in paren-
into English. The literal meaning of each word or
of pronunciation'
theses. 6nce again, check your dictionary if
you are unsure
medical value given usually
placebo_(I shall please; u ,ugu, pill, a remedy without
' - f* psyctrotoiical itt"ct. netieving the plocebo to be a sedative, the anxious
potient soon begon to relax'
The mores of any
mores-(customs) customs, principles of conduct within a culture.
groip are enforced by indoctrination and social pressure to conform.
p.o r"o.m"-(for form's sake) as a matter of form or propriety. The conrirmation
voteispurelyproforma,sincethereisnooppositiontothisnominee'
---
nonscquitur_(itdoesnotfollow)aconclusionthatdoesnotfollowfromthe
prirnir.s or evidence, a logically unjustified conclusion or inference' The
iupposedly logicol orgument was nothing but a tissue ol no-lsequiturs'
grafsJ(as favorsf free oi charge, without payment. When I had selected
a large
' puichase o! fruits and vegitables, the grocer added a couple of ripe tomatoes
grotis.
The rent is a
quia'pro quo-(this for that) a fair exchange of one thing for another'
services that the
quid pro qro not only ior the use of ih, tpore but for certain
tondlord is obligated to Provide'
scraped clean to receive
tabula rasa-(scrapid table0 a blank slate, a writing table
impressions. Pftilos ophers formerly compored the mind
of a newborn to a
fresh
tabula on which sensory experiences were impressed'
raso
present state of affairs' The
status quo-(the state in which) the way things are, the
quo, to keep things
nome conservative implies a desire to maintain the stotus
the waY theY are.
prerequisite for some-
sine qua non-(without which not) an essential condition or
quo non of success'
if,ing. fhe'knaciio,, iiowtni whot people want is the sine

ful public relations.

professional
emeritus-(having served out one's time) retired but still holding one's
protessor emeritus'
ritle. He no longer teaches but is tisted in the catalogue os a
erratum-(an error) a mistake in printing or writing. The proofreader morked the
erratum for correction by the printer. The plural is errata'
sic-(thus) this way in the original. Src in English has very specialized use' If in
writ-
ing you quote a source that contains a mistake, you should put sic in brackets
passage appears thus in
t iafte. the mistake to indicate to your reader that the
the original.
96 / Essential Vocabulary for COnege_BOund Students

EI|EBCISE I synonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in meaning
to the given word.
l. rasa: a) razor's edge b) clean table c) graph d) blank slate
tabula
2. mores: a) regulations b) customs c) avarice d) affections
3. gratis: a) without recompense b) as a suggestion c) grateful d) scraped
4. errata: a) illogical conclusions b) grammatical errors c) typographical
errors d) misdemeanors
5. quid pro quo: a) tender offer b) tit for tat c) gift d) payment for
professional services
6. emeritus: a) having completed service b) experienced c) enrolled as a
student d) planning retirement
7. placebo: a) pleasantry b) worthless effort c) sugar pill d) locality
8. pro forma: a) formless b) as a formality c) formalist d) computed by
a formula
9. sic: a) interesting b) bogus c) not in the original d) thus in the original
10. status quo: a) existing state of things b) flux c) high social standing
d) economic crisis
ll. non sequitur: a) argumentation b) untrue premise c) illogical inference
d) guesswork

12. sine qua non: a) conundrum b) frill c) fine point d) necessary

precondition

EXER0ISE II From the folrowing rist of terms, pick the one most appropriate
to each of the sentences below. Write the terms in the blanks.
quid pro quo gratis
non sequitur mores
status quo emeritus
placebo errata
tabula rasa sine qua non
pro forma
l. I had to pay for the repairs, but he gave me the advice free of charge.

2. Having been bit by one dog, he concluded that all dogs were dangerous.

3. As a matter of respect, she is addressed by her title even though she has
been retired for many years.
 Lesson 30 / 97

4. Fresh ingredients are the basis of excellent cuisine; you must start with good
food to make good food.
5. After the book had been printed, the publisher inserted a slip in the front
listing several printer's errors that hadn't been corrected'

6. In the experiment, one gloup was given the drug while a control group'was
given a sugar pill that looked identical.
7. Since you have already been paid, submitting a bill is merely a formality;
the company requires a bill for its records.
8. They wished to wipe out the past and start over' as if they were facing the
issue for the first time, without preconceived notions'

9. Those who benefit most from the present state of affairs have a vested
interest in seeing that power is not redistributed.
10. society operates according to a huge system of rules, only a small portion
of which are actually codified in laws.
11. The president promised the representative a federal work project in his
district in exchange for support on the tax bill'

EXERGISE III Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
bullet in
l. "John Kennedy, elected in 1956 [sic], was felled by an assassin's
1963." Src in this sentence means that a) Kennedy's election was
regrettable b) the outcome of the 1956 election was highly unexpected
c) the author of the sentence is incorrect about the date of Kennedy's
electiond)thepersonquotingthepassagehasaddedthisdate
2. A non sequitur is a kind of a) prejudice b) gratuity c) fallacious
conclusion d) error in writing
3. The sine qua non of college acceptance is almost always a) a
high school
diploma b) emeritus standing c) an average above B d) an academic
record that is a tabula rasa
4. In learning the mores of a society, one learns a) how to dance b) private
secrets c) how to behave with decorum d) occult knowledge
5. A quid pro quo is a kind of a) status quo b) swap c) false remedy
d) formalitY
 REVIEW TEST 3

l. Anything to equar the determined reticence of Mr. Jaggers under that

roof I never saw elsewhere, even in him.
.Charles Dickens
The writer implies that Mr. Jaggers was norma[y a) not voruble b) a
raconteur c) effervescent d) not phlegmatic

2. A sullen darkness now hovered above us-but from out of the mitky
depths of the oceon a ruminous glare arose and-store up arong
the bur-
warks of the boat.
_Edgar Allan poe
Luminous here means a) brightly shining b) phosphorescent c) artifi-
cial d) white
3. Isholl satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part
of the world
never before visited, and may tread a rand never befori imprinted
by the
foot of man.
一Maッ 助 θ′
妙
The speaker expects his curiosity to be a) aroused b)Satisfied tO the limit
c) boundless d) dampened

4. 7ヵ θノ
4cr o/′ ∂夕36α οysry αdded′ ヵαr
r′ s“ cヵ waras′ η s′ わθ bona fide
″′icies O/ハ 々グ″rra″“ ″′
′ ″dg,′ 力α′嶋 ″熔′″ο′力α cο“″θ滋′
ο働″sθ α
″ノ″の′ o/″ θИr″ ″′た“
。 “
H. Claphom
-J.
Bona fide means a) valuable b) laudable c) genuine d) ethnic

Questions 5 and 6.
He seemed part of the mute meranchory randscape,
on incarnotion or iB
frozen woe, with att that wos worm and sentient'in him fast bound berow
lhesurface. , . .

-Edith ttharton
５

The landscape seems a) torrid b) gloomy c) alien d) verdant

    ６

sentient here means a) capable of feeling b) angry c) intelrigent

d) jubilant

Questions 7 and 8.
Had she been ensconced here under other and more pleasant
conditions

98
 Review Test 3 /99
she would hove become alarmed; but, outside humanity, she had at
present nofear.
Hardy
-Thomas
7. The woman described is a) a gamin b) obdurate c) an interloper in
society d) estranged from her fellow beings

t. Ensconced means a) introduced b) snugly situated c) discovered

b) threatened

9. The doY is an ePitome of the Year.

David Thoreau
-Henry
Thoreau means that a day a) summarizes the year b) is a significant part of a
year c) seems very long d) is a de facto year

Questions 10-12.
By this time the company began to hold their noses; but the doctor, with-
out taking the teost notice of this signal, proceeded to show thot many
fetid substances were not only agreeable but salutary' ' _fo,i* Smoltett

10. The doctor was a) describing mores b) impervious to signals c) dis-

sembling d) commiserating with the ill

I l. A fetid substance a) stinks b) is swollen c) bubbles d) is a placebo

12. As a learned fool, the doctor may be called a a) vilifier b) nemesis

c) wiseacre d) doctor emeritus

13. He was one of a closs . . . who, from cultivating wilhin their bosom a
cerlain tendency toword suspicion, have come to think that oll Govern-
ment seryonts are idle, dilatory, supercilious, and incompetent.
TrolloPe
-AnthonY
The character described suspects public servants of a) overzealousness
b) deliberately causing delays c) errata d) corroborating each
other's stories

14. Now o free nation must have tiberty to bring forwold schemes for the
publicaccommodation,andtohovethemdecidedbysomepublictri-
bunal afterfull investigation, and heoring all porties'
Boxter
-R. D.
A tribunal is a) a place of judgment b) an investigation of facts c) an
election d) an imPeachment

15. So now, as on infotlible woy of making tittle ease greot ease, I began to
controct a quantity of debt.
_Chartes Dickens

lfawayisinfallible,ita)isprivateb)ishighlyorderedc)always
works d) is without Precedent
100 / Essential Vocabulary for College- Bound Students

Questions tfi)!tl,
*"m ore ,nmonnered, rough, in*actabre, os we, as ignoront;
but others ore docile, have a wish to leorn, and evince a disposiiion thot
pleoses me.
BrontU
-Charlotte
16. An intractable person a) resists being taught b) is dull c) disparages the
efforts of others d) is confused

17. To evince a disposition is to a) modify behavior b) criticize a decision

c) hint at a possibility d) display a character

18. I sat at a table where were rich food and wine in obundance, an obse-
quious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not; and I went awoy
hungry from the inhospitable board.
David Thoreau
-Henry
obsequious attendance refersto a) execrable service b) a gaudy set-
ting c) fawning servants d) a meticurous attention io detair
19. This is by no means a truism, but on rhe contrary a palpablefalsehood.
Russell
parpable in this sentence means
a) obvious b) abre ,o o. ,ou.nllt'"-d
c) emotionally charged d) disgraceful

20. I tosted them out of compliment to Noture, rhough they were scarcely
palotable.

-Henry David Thoreou

The author found the food a) unripe b) bad+asting c) evil-smelling
d) succulent
 Ⅲ SSON 31

The following ten nouns name kinds of places'

bastion-stronghold, fortified place, bulwark. slre was a bastion of common
sense
projecting part of a
in a time if widespread hyiteria. Originally, abation was a
figuratively to describe any strong defense'
fortified wall. It is now uiuatly used
a part'
enclave-small territory surrounded on all sides by an entity of which it is not
West Bertin ,uruiuo as an enclave in communist Eost Germony' Enclave is
to territorial isolation and polit-
similar in meaning to basrion but refers more
ical separat.n.rr.- Bostion is less geographical and emphasizes the idea of
strength and defense.
terra incolnite-unknown land, territory yet unexplorcd. They steamed
up the
river,-post the last outpost, into a teffa incognito of lush green iungle. In Latin,
teTa incognita meani literally "earth unknown." It is often used figuratively
for anything unexplored, such as an area of research'
prntheon-originally, an ancient Roman temple to all of the gods, now used figur-
great heroes of
atively foiany building or imagined place where the gods or the
a people are enshrine d. Andrew sarris, in his seminal book, The American
cinema, proposed a pantheon of the greatnt Hollywood directors- In
Greek,
pontheon means "all the gods."
Iirmsment-the sky, especialli conceived as a vault arching over the eath' As night
the Latinfirmw
fell, stars opp"or"d in the firmament. Firmamen, comes from was forherly be-
(steadfast),the same rooi that gives us the English firm-lt
the
lieved that the earth stood motionless at the center of the universe' Beyond
sun and moon and the moving planets was a great celestial sphere of "fixed"
stars which were thought to be unchanging, hence the termfirmament.
placed in a rich ond
sepulcher-tomb, burial iult. The remains of the king were
ornote sepulcher, Also spelled sepulchre. The adjective sepulchral
means

"gloomy, tomblike, suggestive of the grave'"

repositlory-any place wheri things are put for safekeeping or are stored securely'
She rented a saf,e-deposit box os a repository for heriewelry
ond bonds'
kiosk-small, open-sidei structure, such as a newsstand. Tickets are sold ot the
kiosk at the entronce to the omusement park. Kiosk comes from a Turkish
word for an oPen-air Pavilion.
vestibule-small entranceway. The vestibule was just large enough for a coatrack
ond an umbrello stand.
midden-a refuse heap marking the site of a prehistoric settlement' Excavoting the
midden,
midden, they uniovered piles of broken shetls. Midden, often kitchen
is a term used bY archeologists.

101
102 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EIEBCISE I
synonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with rhe word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.

l. pantheon unexplored land

2. kiosk place for safekeeping
3. sepulcher fortress
4. bastion foyer
5. firmament vault of heaven
6. midden burial vault
7. terra incognita area isolated within a larger one
8. enclave newsstand
9. vestibule temple to all the gods
10. repository ancient trash heap

EIER0ISE lI circre the retter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. A bastion is a place of a) garbage b) reverence c) buriar d) protection
2. Terra incognita is likery to attract. a) explorers b) astronomers c) people
with valuables to protect d) vacationers
3. A vestibule is generaily a) surrounded by hostile neighbors b) a
passageway to a larger space c) spacious d) uncharted

4. At a kiosk one is likely to find a) verdure b) armaments c) magazines

d) lawn furniture
5. A midden is of interest to a) archeologists b) thieves c) hoboes
d) architects
6. A repository is a place where property is a) likely to be stolen b) held
securely c) liquidated d) catalogued
7. In the firmament one can observe a) statues of the gods b) the relics
of
the past c) current events d) the constellations
8. The original pantheon was a prace of a) internment b) barter
c) worship d) sacrilege
9' As a region, an enclave is usually a) indistinguishable from its
environs
b) politically encircled c) politically radical d) walled
10. A sepulcher is a resting place for a) the dead b) weary travelers
c) valuables d) the ambulatory

EIER0ISE III From memory, try to comprete the fo[owing sentences with words
from this lesson. The first letter of each answer is given beforJthe
blank. write your
answers in the blanks.

l. The front door opened into a [vl from which another

door led into a much larger waiting room.
 Lesson 31 / 103

house stood gloomy and silent, like a [s]

__ln
2. The empty
which all his hopes had been buried'
on the sidewalk
3. We walked down to the corner to a [k]
where one could buy newspapers and maps of the city'
People invest in insurance as a [b] against the economic
rutt that can f01low from maJor disasters like pro10nged illness.

The pottery shards found in the [ml do not seem to have

U""n ,naae locally; they may have been carried there by a migrating tribe'

6. One wing of the portrait gallery was a [p]

of America's
great inventors.
basement served as a [r] for
7. Cabinets in the museum's
valuable nineteenth-century photographs'
set apart
8. The community of orthodox Amish is an [e]
fronl mainstream American culture by different customS and belieFs.

9. Antarctica, that vast unknown expanse of ice, is the last great

ltl
on the surface of this Planet.

10. As the earth rotates, the signs of the zodiac seem

to move across the
tfl

to complete each sentence'

EXERCISE IV Circte the letter of the best choice
l. To one who has never studied it, the history of China is a) a midden b) a
-.
terra incognita c) a repository of learning d) a
pantheon of emperors

2.Abellwithasepulchraltonesoundsa)analarmb)Iikewindchimes
c) like a death knell d) cracked
3. At night in the fields shepherds studied the a)
pantheon b) enclave
c) firmament d) kiosk
of resistance b) a
4. A politically distinct enclave may also be a) a bastion
nationalr.porirryc)avestibuled)amiddenofgreatarcheological
interest
part of
5. A vestibule isa) part of a firmament b) dedicated to the gods c)
palpable entity
a larger architeciural structure d) not a

Gods and Demons

Hell where Satan sits enthroned is
tn the epic poem Paradise Lost,the metropolis in
It is in the great hall in Pandemon-
called pande.oniu.,ifr. place of "all demons'"
corrupted mankind' only to be
ium that Satan proclai.r io his followers that he has
metamorphose into serpents'
answered Uy a univeisal hiss as all the fallen angels
Miltoncoinedtt,enamebyanalogywithpontheon,andlikethebroadeningof
years has widened'
difinitioi of pandemonium over the
pantheon,smeaning, the
and deafening confusion'
Pandemoniurn can now refer to any scene of wild
 LESSON 32

The nouns below name kinds of workers.

ehissary-one sent to influence opponents politically. The rebels sent an emissary to
propose a truce.
diva-prima donna, a leading female singer in opera. The diva received a standing
ovation ot the close of her aria.
lapidary-worker or dealer in precious stones. We took the emeratd pendant
to a
lapidaryfor oppraisal.
curator-person who takes care of or supervises something such as a museum,
a col_
Iection, or a library. The curotor supervised the instalhtion of the paintingsfor
t he exhibit. Curat or comes from the Latin v erb
curare,., to cire for.,,
steward-one who manages or supervises household affairs, finances, or property
for others, especially, a person employed to oversee food and drink. ihe'wine
steward mode sure that the guests were well supplied with champogne.
steword
has many shades of meaning in different contexts. In labor unions,
for in-
stance, a shop steward is a member elected to represent the workers
of his or
her department.
choreographer-person who creates dances, one who plans the movements
of a
lance, especially a banet. Niiinsky was o choreigrapher as well as one of
bollet's great dancers.
pedagogue-teacher, often a pedantic or narrow-minded
one. A pedagogue wos
hired to tutor the children in music and math.
philologist-scholar who studies the structure and evolution
of languages as pre_
served in texts' The philologist described the tronsmutation
of Lotin into'the
variotu Romonce languages. Etymologically, philologrlsr means ,,word-lover.,,
The word has been shifting in meaning over the last two centuries;
at the
moment it usually refers to a specialist in ancient Greek and Latin.
milllner-maker or seller of ladies' hats. Reduced to poverty, Lily
finds employment
at o milliner's, trimming hats.
ombudsman-public official charged with overseeing the activities
of government
agencies in order to protect the rights and interests
of citizins. Bilieving that
the state office of education was acting irresponsibly, the
coapre appealed to a
state ombudsman to intervene. we have borrowed uotn
ths concept and the
word ombudsman fromthe swedish. The plural is ombudsmen.
thespisn-actor. Twenty would-be thespians auditioned
for the leoding role in the
school play. Thespis is said to be the first Greek to rt"g.
tragedies.
- The word
thespian usually has a somewhat pretentious or comicar fn..
entrrpreneur-one who assumes the risks and the profits of a busines
s. He become
on entrepreneur when he inherited a smolt import business.
104
 LessOn 32 / 105

in meaning
EXEBCISE I Synonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest
to the given word.
l. pedagogue: a) negotiator b) political organizer c) archivist
d) dogmatic instructor
2. curator: a) faith healer b) dealer in gems c) museum caretaker
d) janitor
3. ombudsman: a) police officer b) outlander c) citizen's advocate
d) Plaintiff
4. lapidary: a) stamp collector b) lover of books c) dog trainer
d) diamond cutter
5.entrepreneur:a)practicingphysicianb)ownerofabusiness
c) pensioner d) ernPloYee
6. diva: a) ballerina b) actress c) star singer d) female diver
7. choreographer: a) dance arranger b) business minager of a dance troupe
c) music critic d) choral director
S.milliner:a)men,stailorb)hatmakerc)flourproducerd)shoe
salesPerson

9. thespian: a) Greek scholar b) student of theology c) tragedian

d) ballet master
10. emissary: a) actuary b) representative to an enemy
c) teacher of
languages d) minister
ll.philologist:a)troubleshooterb)writerofromancesc)speechtherapist
d) language sPecialist
12.steward:a)managerofprovisionsb)ownerofanestatec)arbiterof
taste O Scottish noble

sentence'
EIERCISE II Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each
l. Typically, a curator is trained to evaluate a) art works b) wines
i) literary merit d) industrial capacity
2.Alapidarymustbeagoodjudgeofa)cuisineb)characterc)horses
d) gems
3. An emissary is sent out to a) sabotage factories b) foster confusion
c) influence political decisions d) overthrow a government
c) yard goods
4. One would go to a milliner to buy a) a necklace b) coins
d) a hat
5. An entrepreneur is generally a) wealthy b) a union member
c) self-employed d) an artist
b) coordinated
6. A choreographer is concerned with a) economic indicators
,o".-.ni c) preserving paintings d) semantics
t06 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

7. An ombudsman represents a) the people's interests b) panng clients

c) national security interests d) a museum
8. A diva must have a highry disciprined a) fo[owing b) coror sense
c) voice d) routine of physical exercise
9' On a large estate, a steward is likety to be in charge of a) the
education of
the young b) domestic arrangements c) marital disputes d) washing
the dishes
10. A philologist must have a firm grasp of a) tax law b) architectural
principles c) paleontology O grammatical structure
ll. A thespian needs to be able to a) follow a conductor b) read music
c) memorize easily d) evaluate a prospectus
12. A pedagogue is expected to a) educate others b) keep a
househord
running smoothry c) move gracefully d) follow fashions

EIERCISE III From the following list of names, pick a term to match the descrip
tion given in each of the sentences below. Write the names in the blanks.
choreographer steward
emissary thespian
milliner diva
curator philologist
lapidary entrepreneur
ombudsman pedagogue

l. From the form of some of the words, the professor concluded

that the lyric
was not from the classical period but earrier, from the
Homeric period.

2. For many years Beverly sills was one of the foremost figures in American
opera.
3. on her income taxes she deducted part of her rent because she operated
a
mail-order business out of her apartment.
4. Besides being a dancer and a dance teacher, Martha Graham
created
numerous modern dance compositions, including Frontier
ud Enands
into the Moze.
5. Although a government emproyee herself, her job is to defend the pubric
against the abuse of power by government.
6. The agent lobbied government leaders for an end to the embargo
on arms
sales to his country.
7. Spr-eading the stones out on a velvet tray, she explained how the value of a
diamond is determined.
t. His job was to plan the menus and supervise the cooks and
waiters.

9. she worked in a boutique that sold werything in fashionable headgear from

tiaras to turbans to sunshades.
 Lesson 33 / 107

10. over the next year, the director is planning to expand the dinosaur exhibit
and open a children's wing devoted to showing the experience of
childhood in other Cultures.
question
He strode across the stage, declaiming in stentorian tones that the
was "to be or not to be."
12. He drilled his young pupils over and over until they could recite the capitals
of Europe in their sleeP.

LESSON 33

The nouns in this lesson name people'

belief' Tfte
heretic-one who believe, .onttuiy to his or her church or established
ChurchcondemnedGatiteoasohereticlorclaimingthattheeorthmoved
around the sun. The thing the heretic believes is called heresy.
one'
tyro-novice, inexperienced biginner, especially an aggressive or overconfident
As a tyro infinonce, he leornedfrom his mistokes'
Zeolots
zeelol-one who is excessively dedicated to or zealous for a cause, a fanatic.
--- -for potiencefor anyone who counseled conserva'$m ' Both
reform, they had no
in a religious context but both can be
Zealot and heretic are frequentli used
used more generally of other kinds of beliefs'
proved hercelf
altruist-a person who acts unselfishly in the interests of others ' She
no hope of
an altruist by voluiteerins b netp the flood there
victims when wos

,ecompe^ei. The adjective to describe such a person is altruistic.

in the arts, only
dilettante-a dabbler, p..ron who follows an interest, especially
superficially o,
" amusement. She could ofrord to be a dilettante os a mu.
", "n
siion, sinci she did not depend on her playingfor an income'
-
he does, especially
chrrlatan-one who pretends io have skill or to know more than
pretend they can cure
in order to take advantage of others. Chorlatans who
cancer have been responsiblelor many deaths'
ungrateful i.rton. After atl they had done to help, only
on ingrate
irg*i"-"n
would havefailed to thank them'
shocked at the
mendicanf-a beggar. Visitors to impoverished countries ore oJten
be used as an adjec-
number of mendiconts in the stieets. Mendicant can also
tive, as in mendicant friars.
self-servini fl"tt.r.r, one who flatters those in power for his or
her
-
sycophant_a
sycophonts pre-
own advantage. ,qions the hongers-on at court were mony
pared to tetl the king onything he wanted to hear'
'p"oion_" model of excellence, a person perfect in some way. odysseus, the de-
1*er of the Troian Horse, is a poragon of croftiness'
years old. Althoush he
nonrgeneriur-a person between ninety and one hundred
was lucid'
must hove been o nonagenorion, he was still vigorow and his mind
103 / Essential VOcabulary for COnege_】 BOund Students

EXERCISE I Synonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in mean-
ing to the given word.
l.
mendicant: a) one who lies for personal gain b) would-be artist c) one
who asks for alms d) generous person
2. paragon: a) wretch b) mimicker c) autocrat d) perfect model
3. ingrate: a) beggar b) unthankfur person c) nervous person d) person
with no family
4. nonagenarian: a) very ord person b) legislator c) bad-tempered man
d) parent
5. zealot: a) overenthusiastic proponent b) moving orator c) underpaid
hireling d) talented organizer
6. heretic: a) conformist b) simpleton c) person who praises others
d) person who rejects a common faith
7. sycophant: a) mindreader b) monarchist c) flatterer d) true believer
8. dilettante: a) gourmet d) mere amateur c) professional d) successful
painter
9. tyro: a) beginner b) instructor c) sports fan d) veteran
10. altruist: a) irascible person b) worker c) kind of doctor
d) self-sacrificing individual
ll. charlatan: a) fool b) mature person c) knowledgeable
person d) imposter

EERCISE Ⅱ Fill in the blanks from the list of wOrds below.

nonagenarian paragons
sycophants mendicants
heretic tyro
ingrate charlatan
dilettante altruist
zealots
１

Rose had cause to resent her two older siblings who had always
      ２

been held up
by their parents as .- of virtue.
The ..---_- for moral reform confiscated objects of worldly
vanity-mirrors, portraits, wigs, finery, books-and made a bonfire
of
them in the town square.
３

She was a(n) who ridiculed the very people whose kindness
      ４

she had once depended on.

Part of the mOnarch's hOusch01d budget was anocated for alms to be given
daily to the who gathered at the gates.
5. Anyone who dared to question the community's beliefs publicly was likely to
be driven out of the settlement as a dangerous
 Lesson 33 / l0

6. The letter-writer was a(n) who pretended to know of their

daughter's whereabouts in order to extract money from the distraught
Parents.
7. Five generations of the family were present, including one great-great-grand-
mother, a frail
8. He was a(n) who worked tirelessly for others and gave
little thought to his own comfort.
9. Visitors to the great director were disgusted by the fawning
with which he had surrounded himself.
10. The young man was a with a smattering of knowledge in
many fields but no real competence in any.
I l. She had joined the firm as an ambitious when she was
just out of college.

ffinCISE III Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. An ingrate
-he's
never saYS --.
a) sorry b) please c) thank you d) he doesn't know
2. An altruist acts for
a) her own good b) irrational reasons c) other people's welfare d) the
good of the state

3. AsycophantalwaYs people in power.

a) clntradicts b) flatters c) plots against d) emulates
4. A mendicant is likelY to be
a) fastidious b) neatlydressed c) aparagon d) apauper
5. Someone with is a tyro.
a) a good appetite b) a lot to learn c) many advantages d) great
expertise

-' to appear
6. You can expect a nonagenarian
a) aged b) interesiedinpolitici c) nonchalant d) foreign
7. A dilettante the arts.
a) is zealous for b) despises c) teaches d) dabbles in

8. ,) is one kind of charlatan'

a)V01uable talker b)quaCk C)ancestor-. d)altruist
9. Heresy is a denial of
a) lne existence --.God b) what those in power believe c) individual
of
rights d) one's own identitY
10. A zealot in devotion to a cause.
- is a) ambivalent b) lackadaisical c) fanatical d) treacherous
I l. A paragon is someone to be
a) imitated b) expunged c) questioned d) taught
I l0 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

Nonagenorian comes from a Latin word nonaginta, meaning ..ninety." A non-

agenarian is a person in his or her nineties. The same non stem can be seen in our
word, nonagoz, a fi8ure with nine sides and nine angles. Other words for people's
ages have been constructed on number stems. See if you can guess how old the
following people are. Check your answers in the dictionary.
a sexagenarian
a septuagenarian
an octogenarian
a centenarian

LESSON 34

This lesson and the next two present adjectives.

dormant-sleeping, inactive. Perenniol flowers such as irises remain dormant in the
winter and bloom in the spring. Latin dormire literally means .,to sleep,';
the
same root gives us dormitory, a place for sleeping.
sedentary-spending a lot of time sitting, requiring sitting. olfice workerc
most part have sedentary jobs.
for the
sometic-bodily, physical. Psychotogicot dbturbances often manif*t themselves
in-
directly as somatic symptoms.
pallletive-easing the severity of, mitigating, alleviating, extenuating.
The guord,s
apology had a palliative effect on the angry visitor.
egreglous-flagrantly bad, outstanding in a negative way. He paid dearly
egregious mistoke. Like gregorions (see Lesson l4), egregious is built
for hb
on the
Latin root gregls, ,.of the herd. , ' The prefix e means ..out]" so in Latin egregi_
&s means "standing out from the herd, superior, eminent.', In
English the
word has gradually taken on a negative connotation so that it now is
applied
only to things that stand out for being unusually bad.
declduous-shedding leaves every year. Deciduous trees, unlike evergr*tr,
lose
t heir foliage in autumn.
vernd-pertaining to spring, springlike. The vernal influence wos everywhere
op-
pqrent, especially in the park, where young couples strolled
hand in hoid
among the roses.
dlurnal-relating to a day, daily, happening in a day or during daylight. Nocturnol
animals sleep during the diurnol hours.
sldered-starry, relating to a star or the stars. sidereal time is meosured by the ap-
parent motion of the starc.
interneclne-very destructive of life, deadly to both sides of a conflict. The First
world war was an internecine struggle that btighted a whole generotion of
European youth.
 Lesson 34 / lll

mundane-of this world, commonplace, humdrum, unexciting. The film was undis-
tinguished, a mundane exercise in horuor movie clichis. The Latin term for the
world is mundus; mundane was originally opposed to spiritual or celestial. lt
now is generally used to mean "dully ordinary," the opposite of "out of this
world."
littoral-having to do with the shore of an ocean or large body of water. The area on
a beoch between the highwater mork ond the low-water mark is called the lit-
toral zone.
feral-untamed and brutal, savage, like a wild beast. Undomesticated carnivores ore
feral animals. Ferol is often applied to animals descended from domesticated
beasts that have at some point reverted to a wild state. It is often used figura-
tively to compare people to savage creatures.

EIIERGISE I Synonymr. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in mean-
ing to the given word.
l. mundane: a) opaque b) obsolete c) weekly d) ordinary
2. diurnal: a) pertaining to the stars b) inactive c) recurring every
twenty-four hours d) cloudY
3. egregious: a) extremely undesirable b) select c) imprecise
d) unpalatable
4. somatic: a) sitting b) pertaining to the body c) lying down
d) psychogenic
5.dormant:a)impotentb)impassivec)sleepingd)defunct
6. feral: a) hairy b) satiated c) savagely wild d) rust-colored
7. internecine: a) fraternal b) predictable c) heavenly d) hiehly
destructive
8.vernal:a)ofthespringb)thawedc)gelidd)oftheearth
9. littoral: a) of the planets b) of the coast c) of the body d) autumnal
10. palliative: a) preemptive b) exacerbating c) consolidated d) soothing
ll. sidereal: a) ghostly b) of secondary importance c) astral d) daily
12. deciduous: a) not evergreen b) perennial c) hibernating d) deadly
13. sedentary: a) sedate b) migratory c) seated d) unhealthy

EXERCISE II riu in the blanks from the list of words below.

diurnal littoral
vernal dormant
internecine deciduous
egregious Palliative
mundane sedentarY
feral somatic
sidereal
112 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

l. The prehistoric inhabitants of the area had been a(n)

people, living around the shore of the inland sea.
2. The Indians chewed coca leaves as a(n) drug to ease
exhaustion and altitude sickness.
3. The seeds may remain for long periods until favorable
conditions trigger their growth.
4.The equinox is sO named because it Occurs at that point in
the spring when day and night are of equal duration.
5. Arab astronomers of the Middle Ages used the astrolabe to precisely chart
movements.
6. She felt the effects of the shock as her breath grew short
and her hands became clammy.
7. Maples are among the trees whose dying leaves take on
spectacular colors.

8. A(n) series of errors in navigation left us a hundred miles

off course in waters for which we had no chart.
9. The book told a plodding, story of everyday people and
their typical problems.
10. Abandoned by their owners, the dogs turn running loose
in the woods and hunting deer in packs.
I l. It was a(n) battle; there were so many casualties neither
side could claim a victory.
12. He isn't interested in a(n) job; he would rather be out in a
blizzard than be chained to a desk all day.
13. A day is measured by the rotation of the earth on its axis.

EXERCISE III
circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. Deciduous describes a type of a) topography b) climate c) person
.d) vegetation
2. lf a passion is dormant,it may yet be a) rekindled b) reciprocated
c) obsessive d) out of control
3. An internecine conflict is a) a skirmish b) a spat c) very bloody
d) unilateral
4. An egregious decision is a) one that is postponed b) a serious misstep
c) the right choice d) anticipatory
5. The vernal season is marked by a) withered leaves b) high tides c) fresh
foliage d) torrid weather
6. sidereal light is a) stronger than moonlight b) reflected sunlight
c) fluorescent d) fainter than moonlight
7. A somatic effect occurs a) in an organic body b) on a spectroscope
c) in the heavens d) in the spring
 Lesson 35 / ll3
8. A feral smile makes a person appear a) concilatory b) brutal c) craven
d) crabby
9. A palliative circumstance may a) increase a penalty b) result in shock
c) exonerate a suspect d) extenuate a fault
10. A mundane course is a) fascinatingly different b) run-of-the-mill c) a
course in geology d) always an elective

I t. A diurnal cycle is completed a) in a day b) only once c) in a year

d) in a human lifetime
12. A person in a sedentary position is a) sitting down b) uncomfortable
c) pensive d) likely to tire quickly
A littoral environment is likely to offer a) alpine vegetation b) a desert
c) deep-sea fishing d) salt marshes

LESSON 35

something' /n
redolent-fragrant, smelling like and therefore strongly suggestive of
the spring the dining riom, its windows open to the
garden, is redolent of lilacs'
in manner' He hod the
unctuouslgriasy, oily,loo smooth or hypocritically suave
lemon on an unsus-
unctuous manner of a used-car salesman trying to unload a

Wcting grandmother.
purpose in leoving the party wos
osteisible-frofessed, apparent. Their ostensible
topick up some iriirirr, but really they iust wanted to be alone. ostensible is
similar in meaning to putotive (Lesson 8) but has a slightly
different focus'
putotive, from thi Latin verb for "suppose," emphasiz= th-e observer-what
from a verb mean-
an observer thinks or supposes about something. osfensible,
ing ,.show," emphasizei the deliberate creating of a false impression-what a
person wants to make others believe or suppose'
holy. Many of
hallowed-made or considered sacred, consecrated' venerated as
precincts
Englond's illustrious men ond women are buried within the hollowed
of Westminster AbbeY.
be circumspect
circumspect-watchful in all directions' wary. A public olficiol must
in ail his actions to avoid even the appeorance of impropriety.
soon as the train
somnolent-sleepy. The somnolent chiicl dropped off to sleep as
storted moving.
in the
limpid-transparent, perfectly clear, not muddied. You con see the rtsh easily
limpid woter of the lake.
turbid-muddied, roiled, cloudy, full of sediment and therefore unclear or
con-
fused. Ihe s treom was turbid where the cattle hod iust forded.
baleful-fatal, harmful, evil. A balefut glance from the professor silenced the
people's looks or ex-
obstreperous student. Botefut is used most frequently for
pressions.
l14 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

incendiary-using fire for willful destruction, tending to arouse or inflame to vio-

lence or revolt. The general's.limousine was destroyed by an incendiary bomb.
Also, a person who instigates political violence can be called an incendiary.
propitious-favorable, predicting future good, ftindly disposed. With clear skies
and propitious winds, the craft reached the coast in only three days.
exemplary-serving as a pattern or example, deserving imitation. The leader's
exemplary behavior in both her public and private tife made her a model
for alt
bfoUow.

EXERGISE I Synonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in mean-
ing to the given word.
l.circumspect: a) odorous b) amorous c) reticent d) carefur
2. unctuous: a) overly smooth b) liquid c) barmy d) sinuous
3. hallowed: a) empty b) eerie c) sanctified d) saluted
4. exemplary: a) abominable b) admirable c) authentic d) actuar
5. baleful: a) medicinar b) wheat-filed c) wailing d) malign
6. turbid: a) stirred up b) sorted c) swoilen d) pernicious
7. incendiary: a) ardent b) insulting c) incipient d) fiery
8. redolent: a) odious b) sweet-sounding c) resinous d) aromatic
9. propitious: a) preternatural b) auspicious c) owned outright d) too
sudden
10. limpid: a) flaccid b) adamant c) shining d) crysta[ine
ll. ostensible: a) seeming b) ostentatious c) pulled taut d) veritable
12. somnolent: a) flowery b) neurotic c) drowsy d) battle-fatigued

ETERCISE II ct oos. the best word to complete each sentence. write it in the
blank.
l. The basilisk is a mythical serpent whose glance and breath
can kill.
exemplary circumspect
baleful propitious
2. After the rains the river was swollen and so that the water
appeared brown.
somnolent baleful
limpid turbid
3. The opposition charged that while the purpose of the bill
was to ease inflation, it would in fact give a windfall to the largest
corporations at the expense of the consumer.
propitious redolent
ostensible incendiary
 Lesson 35 / 115

4.He tried to lead a(n) Hfe,belie宙 ng that his children would

pay more attention to what he did than to what he preached'
hallowed exemplary
ostensible baleful

5. The royal astrologers were commanded to determine the most

date for the king's coronation.
unctuous limpid
incendiary propitious

6. The poem by the great satirist was dripping with venom and was
with scorn.
redolent somnolent
circumspect exemplary

7. Although her smooth flattery won over my partner' I thought her too
to be trusted.
ostensible ha1lowed
turbid unctuous

The village was an out-of-the-waY, place where chickens

wandered the alleys and a lost pig was considered big news'
baleful incendiary
sol■ nolent ostensible

9. The more complex an argument, the more it requires a

prose style.
redolent turbid
hallowed limPid

10. The attorney was extremely in not giving professional

advice until she had all the facts.
circumspect redolent
turbid unctuous
speech by
I l. At the funeral of the martyred protestors, a(n)
a comrade sparked further violence.
exemPlarY limPid
incendiary circumsPect
places in American
12. Valley Forge and Gettysburg are
history'
hallowed somnolent
propitious unctuous

EIERIISE III Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. An incendiary may also be called a) maniacal b) a firebrand c) a
plebeian d) a Pacifist
2. A baleful influence cannot be a) perceived b) undesirable
c) counteracted d) ProPitious
3. Exemplary work deserves to be a) shunned b) imitated c) hallowed
d) picked apart
116 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

4. A person ostensibly employed a) is underpaid b) does gainful work c) is

likely to be unctuous d) may in fact be unemployed
5. A somnolent mood is suggested by a) a costume party b) a clenched fist
c) a breathtaking view d) a rocking cradle
6. A turbid stream cannot be a) limpid b) swum c) redolent of rotting
vegetation d) charted
7. Someone too circumspect isa) frequently beguiled b) afraid to take a
reasonable risk c) always disconsolate d) too forward
8. Burn ointments are generally a) limpid b) unctuous c) baleful
d) somnolent
9. An example of a ha[owed place is a) a backyard b) the ocean c) a
church d) a freeway

LESSON 36
magnanlmous-noble-minded, extremely generous, especially in overlooking in-
jury. The painter was mognonimous enough to pioise tie work
of o min he
detested. The Latin roots mognus and onimus mean .,great spirii.,, Magnus
also gives us magnify (make great), mogndicent (doing great ttrings;,
andiag-
nitude (size),
eclectic-drawing from diverse sources or systems. His eclectic record collection
included everythingfrom Bach cantatos to the latest rock imports.
noxious-harmful, injurious,(rnwholesome. The noxious
fumis from the refinery
poisoned the air.
detrimental-causing damage or harm. The support of
fringe groups con be detri-
mental to the image of an office-seeker, Noxious is ihe stronger and more
limited term. It describes something damaging to health-usually physical,
but
sometimes mental or moral. Detrimental is a milder and more general
term
applied to any kind of harm.
sinister-evil, especially
fortune. The actor's -in a secret or mysterious way, predicting harm or mis-
sinister oppeoronce made iim' perfect 7or the role of
Dracalo.
cynical-tending to doubt the virtue or sincerity of people,s actions, inclined
to
believe the worst about motives and behavior. A iyniol person would
say that
he was acting out of self-interest.
lmpeluous-sudden, rash, not thinking beforehand. The rescue wos on impetuous
act of heroism; if they had stopped to discuss it, they would have been
too lote.
grmrloue"-talkative, loquacious. she wos so garrulous she soid everything
thru
times.
 Lesson 36 / ll7
punctilious-ve{y exact in the fine points of conduct, scrupulously observant of
proper procedure or cetemony. Punctilious in his sociol relations, he alwoys
responded to invitations immediotely.
astute-difficult to deceive, shrewd. It tokes an astute player to know when someone
is blufJing. Shrewd and canning are very close in meaning to astute but some-
times have negative connotations that astute lacks. To be cunning is often
unattractive, but there's never anything wrong with being astute.
tangible-capable of being touched, having objective reality and value. The new
position offered an opportunity for creotivity as well as the more tangible
reward of increased pay.

EffiCISE I Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.

l. Actions detrimental to your own best interests ought to be

a) pursued b) elucidated c) enumerated d) avoided

2. An astute observer of human behavior is not likely to be

a) insightful b) patient c) fooled d) reliable

3. A sinister omen predicts
a) the weather b) misfortune c) winning the lottery d) the future
4. A person with eclectic tastes likes
a) tots of different things b) to travel c) spicy foods d) music

5. A noxious substance is likely to be

a) dangerous if swallowed b) hard to find c) ubiquitous d) aromatic
6。 can make a person cynical.
a) Too much noise b) Bitter experiences c) Good news d) Staying out
late
7. Garrulous people tend to
a) borrow money b) exaggerate their own virtues c) impress others
d) monopolize conversations
8. It takes a magnanimous Person to
a) analyze an essay b) achieve a difficult goal c) forgive an enemy
d) admit failure
9. A tangible offer is .

a) ipecific and concrete b) contingent on a loan c) already accepted

d) vague or tentative
10. A person who observes social conventions punctiliously probably has

a) a learning disability b) a high income c) formal and gracious

-
manners O apoorattitude
I l. Impetuous people tend to make decisions
a) frequently b) cautiously c) reluctantly d) on impluse
I lt / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EIEAGISE II Antonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word
phrase most nearly its opposite.

l. punctilious beneficial
2. noxious auguring good fortune
3. garrulous like a Pollyanna
4. detrimental sloppy in social matters
5. astute invisible
6. tangible cautious
7. sinister health-giving
8. magnanimous petty
f. impetuous gullible
10. cynical taciturn
I l. eclectic from a single source

EIEBGISE III From memory, try to complete the following sentences with words
from this lesson. The first letter of each answer is given before the blank. Write your
answers in the blanks.

l. In picking a jury, an attorney needs to be an [a] judge of

character.
2. Having been divorced three times, she was somewhat [c]
about the joys of wedlock.
3. Moving frequently and changing schools can be [d] toa
child's educational progress.
4. A public library must be [e] in its acquisitions so as to
serve all kinds of readers.

5. In Jane Austen's novel Emma, Miss Bates is an extremely

[g〕 talker, a harmless and good-natured character but
very tiresome to listen to.

"Look before you leap" is a proverb aimed at [il

individuals.
7。 I had stupidly offended my aunt, but she was [m] ln
forgiving me and forgetting the incident.
8. INI household products should be kept safely locked out
of the reach of children.
9。 A Ip] woman makes a conscientious effort to arrive
punctually for her appointments.
10。 The dilapidated house, with its broken shutters and overgrown hedges,
looked so [s] by moonlight that I could almost believe
it was haunted.
ll. I think their reading has improved, though I have no [tl
evidence.

Right and Ieft

As all left-handed people know from trying to use scissors and school chairs with
attached writing anns, our culture favors right-handed people. As often happens
 Lesson 37 / 119

with minority traits, the right-handed culture has traditionatly regarded left-handed-
ness as an undesirable, inferior, and even wicked preference. Like the metaphors of
black and white, the metaphors of left and right are deeply ingrained in our
language. The double meaning of right is no accident. Right is rieht and left is
wrong.
Oui word sinister is borrowed from the Latin word for left hand. Right in Latin is
dexter, the source of our words dacterity and duterous (see Lesson l4). Even the
term ambidextroas shows a right-handed bias. The word literally means "having
both hands right hands," as if right hands are always the more skilled.

LESSON 37

The words in this lesson and the next are all verbs.
expunge-erase, blot out, delete, obliterate. The military censors expunged any pas-
sages in the letters thot they thought might ieopardize security'
accrue-be added as a natural or expected growth or advantage. Interest accrues to o
sovings account ot oftxed rate.
slough-shed a skin or covering, cast off as no longer wanted or needed. The snake
-stoughed
its dead skin. Stough in this sense is pronounced sluf. The same spell-
,,a deep mire or swamp," in which case it is pronouncedslew,
ing can mean
obtrude-enter where not invited or welcome. It is impolite to obtrude upon their
privocy.
acquiesce-comply, accept, accede, often reluctantly. Employees are upecled to
acquiesce in a boss's decisions even when they disagree.
bifurcaie-divide into two branches or offshoots, split into two pafis. Where the
road bifurcates, toke the left fork.
,*orp-g.i back, make up for a loss. When he sells the building, he will recoup all
his losses.
behoove-be necessary, required, or fitting. It behooves you to inform the school of
your plons if you wish to take a leave of absezce. This word is very limited in its
use. It always appears in the construction "it behooves (someone) to (do some'
thing)."
predisposc-dispose in advance, create a likelihood, make susceptible. Poor nutri-
tion may predisPose one to colds-
eradicate-eliminate thoroughly, wipe out, root out, destroy the roots of . The prac'
tice of inoculation has virtually eradicated smallpox. Latin radix means
"rooti'; etymologically, the Latinate erodicote means exactly the same as the
English root out. As gardeners know, to destroy a weed completely you must
puti it out by its roots. The same radix gives us radish and radical. A radical
solution is one that attacks the roots of a problem, not just its temporary or
superficial manifestations-its branches, so to speak. Rodix is also the source
of
120 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

deroclnete-uproot, pull up by the roots, destroy totally. Deracinated peoples suffer

great emotional sffess to the extent thot they are cat off Jrom their native cul-
ture. Though it has been borrowed from French, deracinete, too, goes back to
the Latin rodix; etymologically, it means the same as eradicate. It can mean
"destroy totally," but it is usually used in reference to people or things cut off
from their origins but not annihilated. To be deracinated is to be uprooted
from your home or out of touch with your "roots." Another word based on
the same metaphor is
extirpate-pull up by the roots, root out, destroy utterly, annihilate. The Inqubitor
vowed to extirpate heresy. In Latin, srr'rps is the base or root of a tree. Like the
previous two entries, extirpate etymologically means "root out." Perhaps be-
cause uprooting a tree is a much more violent act than pulling a weed, extirpote
is the most destructive of the three in its connotation. It always suggests utte,
destruction.

EIER0ISE I synonyms. circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in mean-
ing to the given word.
l. recoup: a) rescind b) recover a loss c) renege d) demean
2. extirpate: a) reduce b) emulate c) carry out d) eradicate
3. accrue: a) be added benefit b) allege c) charge d) depreciate
as a
4. predispose: a) make responsible for b) throw out c) make subject to
d) promise
5. bifurcate: a) fork b) adhere c) conflate d) swerve
6. expunge: a) defray b) erase c) soak out d) sever
7. deracinate: a) derange b) ponder c) rationalize d) uproot
8. slough: a) sink b) discard as useless c) muddy d) smite down
9. behoove: a) be a responsibility b) prevail c) hinder d) be inevitable
10. acquiesce: a) concur with reservations b) applaud c) charge with
wrongdoing d) find innocent
I l. obtrude: a) instigate b) display c) annihilate d) interrupt

EXERCISE II choose the best word to complete each sentence. write it in the
blank.
l. The radical right-wing party was committed to communism。
recouping extirpating
behooving sloughing off
2. The chances are that you will not your roulette losses by
playing blackjack.
bifurcate accrue
recoup deracinate
 Lesson 37 / 121

3. Standing in front of the fire, theY their wet coats.

sloughed off expunged
deracinated obtruded

4. There is evidence that there is a genetic to certain diseases,

for instance heart disease.
acquiescence extirpation
predisPosition accruing

5. Conscientious voters are to keep themselves informed on

public issues.
obtruded behooved
eradicated acquiesced

6. I was trying to concentrate, but unwanted thoughts kept

obtruding predisposing
behooving acquiescing

7. Separated from their homes and families, the youngsters felt

expunged behooved
predisposed deracinated

8. We the proposal because we believed it was the lesser of

two evils.
exPunged eradicated
acquiesced in recouped

9. After his fall from power, his name was from the history
books by the new regime.
expunged recouped
bifurcated deracinated

10. Islam into two main branches.

obtruded extirpated
bifurcated sloughed

I l. Profits from the sales will the estates of the former

owners.
slough accrue to
extirpate eradicate

12. Food stamps were proposed as a means of hunger in

America.
accruing predisposing
eradicating bifurcating

EIIERGISE III Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
l. To eradicate by violent means is to a) modify b) bifurcate c) extirpate
d) annul
2. One sloughs something that is a) no longer needed b) accrued
c) bifurcated d) highlY valued
122/ Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

3. Deracinated immigrants are a) obtrusive b) predisposed to illness caused

by anxiety c) immune to normal stress d) tradition-bound
4. An expunged passage has been a) highlighted b) misunderstood
c) explicated d) crossed out
5. An acquiescent person a) meddles in other people's affairs b) is agreeable
to something c) is silent d) protests something
6. when you have borrowed money and lost it, it behooves you to a) eradicate
the loan b) accrue the funds c) recoup the amount d) slough off your
obligation

LESSON 88

requite-give in return, repay. The mon's sympathy and good humor were requited
by the enthusiastic affection of the chitdren.
envisrge-imagine, call up in the mind as a picture, visualize. I could not envisage
what the house might look tike when the renovation was complete. Envisoge
means virtually the same as envision.
galllvant-gad about in search of fun and excitement, especially with members of
the opposite sex. sie resented his galtivonting about town having a good time
while she worked the night shift.
placrte-soothe the anger of, pacify. A quick temper is often eosily placated.
The
adjective meaning ..not
able to be placated,, is implacable.
insinuate-suggest subtly, especially something negative. By asking so pointedty I
d
hod seen her book, she insinuated that I hod something to do with is disappear-
once.
append-attach as a supplement. Exhibits should be appended to the report.
maunder-talk at length in a pointless, incoherent fashion. After o three-hour ride
we were thoroughly bored with his maundering about the good old days.
curtdl-reduce, shorten, cut back. Classes were reduced to curiail teaching costs.
transgrcss-commit a sin, break a law, step over a boundary or limit. Thi chitd
guilty knowing she was transgressing her parents' commond. Meaning literally
fett
overstep, tronsgress is the Latin equivalent of the English expressions cross the
line, step over the line, or step out of tine.
obfuscate-make obscure, cloud, confuse. Dredging up post quarrels wilt onty ob-
fuscote the present isszes.
divulge-reveal, make public. Newspaper reporters have long
fought the courts for
the right not to divulge their sources of information.
stipulrte-make an express demand or agreement, set a formal condition. rfte
lawyen stipulated that the contract would not go into efJectfor thirty doys.
 Lesson 38 / 123

EIERCISE I Syr,onymr. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in meaning
to the given word.
l. maunder: a) wander off course b) talk aimlessly c) stagger under a
burden d) weeP coPiouslY
2. insinuate: a) accuse publicly b) sneak away c) suggest indirectly
d) slither
3. stipulate: a) get an injunction b) propose a solution c) variegate d) set

a requirement
4. envisage: a) draw a sketch of b) grimace c) inhabit d) picture to
oneself
5. requite: a) be sufficient b) recompense c) fight back d) adore
6. divulge: a) revile b) publicly reveal c) libel d) confess to a sin
7. gallivant: a) go out on the town b) seclude oneself c) teetotal d) have
a respite

8. obfuscate: a) succor b) precipitate c) lose one's temper d) make more

confused

9. placate: a) melt b) bend c) mollify d) mortify

10. append: a) set down in writing b) affix c) excise d) turn sideways
ll. transgress: a) break a commandment b) have a breakdown c) exhume
d) imprecate
12. curtail: a) promulgate b) deactivate c) reduce d) simplify

EIEBCISE II Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
l. Once divulged, information is no longer a) dangerous b) pertinent
c) secret d) useful
2. If service on a bus line is curtailed, probably a) passengers will have to wait
longer for a bus b) ridership will increase c) the fare will increase
d) riders will be more comfortable
3. The law requires that transgressions be a) reported b) filed with the
countyclerk c) equitable d) punished
4. An appendage is something a) unattractive b) attached to something
farger c) no longer used d) isolated and self-contained
5. A person who gallivants is looking for a) trouble b) a good time
c) clues d) a father figure
6. A stipulation a) undermines a relationship b) nullifies a contract
c) makes an agroement conditional d) enforces a rule
7. One envisages a person's face by a) imagining it b) painting it
c) aspiring to it d) touching it
8. An implacable resentment is difficult to a) resist b) condemn
c) elucidate d) overcome
lU / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

9. A maundering account of an incident cannot be a) repeated b) credible

c) germane d) succinct
10. An unrequited lover is a) not loved in return b) iust a gigolo c) too
different d) easily confounded
I l. An insinuation a) is generally welcome b) is charitable c) hints at
wrongdoing d) is an incontrovertible proof
12. A person is likely to obfuscate a quarrel when he feels that a) a quick
resolution is essential b) his cause is just c) his case is weak d) clarity
is a virtue

EIER0ISE III Antonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase most nearly its opposite.

l. maunder accuse directly

2. divulge clarify
3. insinuate speak to the point
4. transgress abide by the law
5. placate expand
6. curtail enrage
7. obfuscate conceal

EIERCISE fU
F.om memory, try to complete the following sentences with words
from this lesson. The first letter of each answer is given before the blank. Write your
answers in the blanks.
l. At the last minute a rider was [a] to the bill 10 facilitate
its passage.
2. Installing insulation in the attic allowed residents to [c]
their use of space heaters.
3. By not claiming hardship, the owners avoided having to
Idl their profits during the coniract negotiations.
4. If we fail to ameliorate conditions now, economists
[e]
still greater problems down the road.
5。 Nick and Nora spent a dissipated week in New York,throwing parties and
tel to all the famous nightspots.
-
6.The attonley attempted tO discredit the witness in the eyes Of the jury by
til that she was a liar.
7. The drunken man [ml on for some time about his dog
without ever reaching the point of the story.
8. It took the examiner an hour to unravel the tenant,s original complaint,
which had been [o] by harassment and recriminations
on both sides.
9. The frustrated toddler was quickly [p] by a lollipop.
10. A grateful guest had lrl their hospitality with a lovely
bouquet.
 Lesson 39 / 125

ll. The agf,eement [s] that an acceptable manuscript must be

delivered no later than June 30.
12. The person who commits wanton murder [t] the most
fundamental principle of civilized behavior.

LESSON 39

The words and phrases in this chapter have all been borrowed unchanged from
your
French. They should be pronounced more or less as they are in French; check
them. The literal meaning in French is given
dictionary if you are not sure how to say
in parentheses for each entrY.
bQie noire-(black beast) a pet hatred, bugbear, something or someone
especially
disliked or feared. Since he teoches logic, it is naturol that sloppy thinking is his
bdte noire.
part
canaille-(pack of dogs) mob, rabble. The oristocrat despised tradespeople os
of thi conaille. banaille is a derogatory term for the common people; like
iabbte or the phrase fitthy rich, it carries heavy ideological baggage. French
canoillederives from the Latincanis (dog), the same root that gives us canine'
savoir-faitt-(to know how to do) a knowing what to do in any circumstances' a
knack for always doing the right thing. Her sovoir-faire mode her at home in
the most extraordinarY Ploces.
raison d'6tre-(reason for being) reason for existence, iustification. Serving the
needs of the Wopte is the whole raison d'dtre of sociol progroms'
coup-(blow, stroke) a sudden and successful action, a quick and brilliant maneuver
or triumph . Wooing o maior account away from the competition lrias his first
coup as o solesman.
coup d'itat-(a blow of the state) a sudden overthrow or change of a government'
especially by force. The government was toppled overnight in o coup d'atot.
- ae
coup gr6ce-(a blow of mercy) a final blow, the finishing stroke to kill a victim
and so put him out of his misery. With his sword, the motador delivered the
coup de grdce.
laisse?drF(et do, that is, let people do as they please) noninterference' espe-
cially a public policy of economic nonregulation. A laissez-faire policy allows
produ""rt to run business without government control'
d6nouement-(an untying) the unraveling of a plot, the end or outcome of a story'
In the dlnouement of traditionol comedy, the impediments to o happy ending
are removed.
conttctemps-(against the time) a mildly unfortunate event' a mishap, a minor em-
barrassment or misunderstanding. We had a brief contretemps when we
thought we had mistaid the tickets. Originally, contrctemps was a fencing term
for a poorly timed thrust.
126 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

ld6e fixe-(fixed
idea) an obsession, a fixed idea, a single notion which dominates a
person's thinking. The opposition of good ond evil waslor him on idEefixe; he
saw oll of life as o moral battleJield.
canard-(a duck) a false story, an absurd lie or rumor, a hoax. She denied the story
os a ludicrous canard invented to sell newsparyrs. Why a false rumor should be
called a "duck" is a mystery.
en masse-(in a mass) all together, as one, in a body. The demonstratars were
atested en masse.

EIER0ISE I
synonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.

l. savoir-faire hands-off policy

2. coup d'€tat mortal stroke
3. en masse obsessive idea
4. id6e fixe as a body
5. coup de grlce government overthrow
6. canaille social know-how
7. raison d'€tre stunning success
8. coup rationale
9. b6te noire rabble
10. canard slight upset
Il. contretemps pet dislike
12. d€nouement untrue story
13. laissez-faire end ofa story

EXEBCISE II using the words and phrases in this lesson, fi[ in the blanks. Be
very careful to write your answers correctly, including the diacritical (accent)
marks.
l. The legend about Washington was an old repeated
because it was a good story, though untrue.

2. conservatives, opposed to what they termed government meddling,

advocated a economic policy.
3. Thousands of citizens marched to Versailles to escort the
royal family back to Paris.
4. She detests all kinds of sports; gym class has been her
since the second grade.

5. Getting accepted- at that college is a real You must have

done impressively well at the interview.
6. opposition leaders were conspiring to take over the reins of leadership in a
bloodless
7. Their ragged clothes marked them as part of the penniless
8. One of the viOlinists broke a string,but aside from that slight
the concert went off very smoothly.
9。 His is remarkable; unembarrassed himself, he puts
everyone else at ease no matter how awkward the situation.
 Lesson 39 /tn
10。 The car's whole was to make things more convenient for
us; if it's more trouble than it's worth, let's get rid of it'
gave it the
ll. The program was already moribund; this last cutback merely

12. In the of Shakcspearean tragedy, the hero dies.

13. Nutrition is her she thinks everything from a hangnail to a heart
attack can be prevented by the proper diet.

-:
EIEBCISE III Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
1.The of the laboratory sessions is to teach students
empirically.
a) b6te noire b) savoir-faire c) raison d'6tre d) coup de grice
2. A contretemPs is often
a) tragic b) mildtY annoying c) untrue d) Planned
A canard may be a
a) deliberate hoax b) verfiable c) ineffable d) accomPlished with
violence

4. A person with savoir-faire has reason to be

n".rout b) timorous c) rambunctious d) self+onfident
")
5.A
a) sudden illness b) brilliant strategy c) clich6 d) feeling of hindsight
6. In implementing a laissez-faire policy, a government '

prices
a) iases restrictions on businesses b) raises taxes c) fixes
d) puts a ceiling on Profits
7. The old regime was by a coup de'6tat.
a) controlled b) preserved c) voted in d) terminated
to tlte person who cherishes it'
- idee fixe
An
a) is ephermeral b) constantly recurs c) is unconscious d)
reverts

9. A_a)uniue,sallyhated_b)terrifyingc)particularlydislikedbyan
b&e noire is something

individual d) amiable
10。 A creature is in a couP de grflce'
a) petted b) finished off c) cajoled d) nourished
The opposite of a d6nouement is
a)1‐ favorite thing b)an initial dtuadon c) a true story d) a cycle of

- move en masse, theY

12. When animals
a) scatter b) keeP together c) swim d) make little headwaY
13. Conaille is a derogatory term because it
a) refers to the populace b) is French c) compares people to cattle
d) compares peoPle to dogs
 LESSON 40

Here are twelve more terms borrowed unchanged from French.

Be sure to consult
your dictionary if you are not sure how to pronounce
them. The literal meaning in
French of each term is given in parentheses.
ing6nue-(ingenuous woman) in plays or films, an innocent young
woman, an
actress who plays naive young women. Mony screen actresses
who began their
os inganues have made a successful switch to playing older
- -careers women.
ambiance-(atmosphere) atmosphere, mood. spotless tiotiaoins
and freshflowers
gave the modest restaurant a pleasant ombionce.
In English, ambiance is only
used to mean atmosphere in the figurative sense of .,moo=d.,,'
faux pas-(false step) a mistake in social manners, a tactless
blunder. To Jorget a
dinner engagement is a serious faux pas because it both insults
and inconveni-
ences other people.
pr6cis-(summary) summary, outline, abbreviated version.
The novetist submitted
to the publisher one complete chapter and a prEcis of the rest
of the book.
manqu6-(failed, lacking) would-be, unsuccessful or defective,
not fulfilling poten_
tial. I guessed from the way he told stories
for the children that he was on actor
monqud.
au courant-(in the current) with it, up-to-date, in the know,
we1-informed. sfte
browsed throughfashion magazines to keep au couront wiin
*e btest styres.
soupgon-(suspicion) hint, tiny amount, trace. The chef
seasoned the dish with a
soupgon ofcayenne.
mpprochement-(a drawing closer) a reconciliation, a reestablishing
relations. The coupre became estranged with no hope of
of friendly
rapplochement.
sobriquet-(nickname) nickname, p.eudonym. His name -ias
Edgar, but he
wrestled professionally under the sobriquet Tiny.
coterie-(social set) group of peopre who friquently socialize
together, a crique, es-
pecially a socially or intellectually exclusive group.
She heli a salon frequented
- by o coterie of painters, writers, and intellectuals.
'elan-(spirit) ardor, energy, active drive. The
boy threw himself into the game with
such 6lan that whot he racked in skiil he made upfor
in entiusiusm.
6clat-(a sudden burst) dazzling brilliance, success that brings
wide acclaim. r&e
newly discovered actor burst upon the social scene
with rulh O"tot that his name
and picture were soon a regularfeature of the gossip
columns;.

mRCISE I synonyrns. circle the letter of the word or phrase closest

in mean-
ing to the given word.
l. coterie: a) partnership b) scintilating briliance c) group rhat
meers
socially d) mob
128
 Lesson 4O / 129

2. manqu6: a) unfulfilled b) shy c) of minor status d) employed as a

model
3. pr6cis: a) harmonious proportion b) an abridgement c) exact copy
d) valuable item
4. ambiance: a) elation b) mood c) uncertainty d) sophistication
5. soupgon: a) slight insult b) misnomer c) slight trace d) slip of the
tongue
6. faux pas: a) gauche error b) dance step c) fatal accident
d) miscalculation
7. ing6nue: a) ingenuous boy b) imposter c) ingenious solution d) naive
girl
8. rapprochement: a) return to harmonious accord b) repast c) an
upbraiding d) intimateconversation
9. au courant: a) knowledgeable of history b) studious c) aware of current
happenings d) adrift
10. 6lan: a) energetic spirit b) perplexity c) wide acclaim d) sense of
humor
I l. 6clat: a) obscurity b) security c) apex d) conspicuous success
12.sobriquet:a)epitaphb)name-callingc)assumednamed)anonymity

write
EXEBCISE II fiU in the blanks from the list of words below. Be sure to
your answers correctly' including the diacritical marks'

soupgon au courant
manqu€ ambiance
rapprochement faux Pas
ing6nue sobriquet
6clat pr6cis
coterie 6lan

l.Thefieldofeconomictheoryischangingrapidly;astudentmustreadthe
current journals in order to stay
2.rnhissrandmother'siJ?,ffi
::r,,111TflT,Xi$;'.:[,rfr lffi 'lj"_.
3.The of her debut made her the toast of the fashionable
set.

4. Class notes can serve as a(n) of what was said in a lecture

or discussion.
5. A person's is often a short version of his or her given
name, such as Mike fot Michael.
6. I detected in her tone the faintest of reproach.

7. Their youthful was such that no setbacks could dampen it'

130 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

8. The music, smoke, and dim lights gave the room the ofa
nightclub.
9. The friends formed a(n) that met at least once a week to
discuss their work and to exchange ideas.
10. In old-fashioned melodrama, the heroine is a sweet
menaced by a black-heartd villain and rescued by a dashing young hero.
I l. At heart she was a teacher Although she had a successful
career in business, she regretted that she hadn't gone into education.
12. The resumption of diplomatic relations is the necessary first step in the
of the two former allies.

EIERCISE III
circte the letter of the best choice to complere each sentence.
l. A faux pas is a failure a) in the theater b) to observe proper manners
c) to walk a straight line d) of nerve
2. An ing6nue must be a) highry experienced b) renowned c) young d) in
films
3. A sobriquet may be used a) to stop the flow of blood b) as a stopgap
measure c) as a refreshment d) as an endearment
4. The quantity suggested by soupgon is a) prodigious b) minuscule
c) penultimate d) moderate
5. The opposite of 6ran is a) ennui b) cruerty c) old age d) depletion
6. The object of a pr€cis is to a) hone b) vrhet c) summarize
d) proselytize
7. An ambiance is created by a) a combination of gases b) aII the
elements
of a particular setting c) smoke and fog a) cnefs
t. A movie director manqu6 is a) a scriptwriter b) still a student
c) world
famous d) not a successful filmmaker
9. The opposite of a rapprochement is a a) falring out b) consonance
c) consequence d) vaunting
10. To be au courant, a person must a) pursue a career b) keep up with the
latest developments c) work out regularry d) isorate
himserf
I l. An &lat is a success a) slow in coming b) that dazzles with
its brilliance
c) that goes unnoticed d) in the political arena
12. A more negative term for a coterie is a a) blunder
b) rag
c) nincompoop d) clique
 REⅥEW TEST 4

1. α′α
劉り ″′″ars or d“ 危″ ′
οg′ parJoJs dル
′ S"Ctallッ ,en masse,

■ Om ЙOSe oJ′ ″ α di“ g

"rOrrO〃 “grOr″ αrio凛 ら お αracr
g7ο οwレ w触 ≠ r′ οrily
ccarra′ 滋
― LO“ おИg鰯た

According to Agassiz,the alumals of each period differ → radiCally

り minutely O aS a group o aSindi宙 duals

■
Quい Ons2anl:勝
″ル
∝ 働 θ
ん″鯰
tionお
わ クαね ),a ciαimリ カ′
′ cカ
Joc′
爵際与
協″″税
餞θ“
p"rs tt α〃 Parttω 。fr w〃 θ″ レ 嚇 rm″ ′
“=り 力α′″ a rearPIttg
Wパ ル″り。 “ “
dcaJθ パ οrJ"″ α た“
′
`Sρ “ 一 冗 So Erior

2.Pantheon in thiS case means → university り imaginary assembly of great

poets O poetiC enclave の bibliography

3.According to Eliot,some people will claim that learning → iS detrimental to

poetry り is fOr poetiC Charlatans O nlakes artists out of dilettantes

の おSOmatic

4. Fo′ α ″ 0″贅閣ra″ ッだ w“ 請 0′ λOrizO"raJry′ ヵa rasr rays arSiP3お rer′ig力 ′

ber翔 力θ″胎 oJ羮 p.「OJriPag waves。
“ "′ “
_JosaFa CoM″

We are told that the Hght appears → Vernal b)speciOus o malign

O Sidereal

O∝ J¨ α ttЙ O″
Lげ レ 繭
切 ヵα‖rs sz“ α″ ′と 百 οパ
税 "“
′ 0ッ
rJ"Zα ,"α な力お′ .

_Edirヵ harrο
"″ “
『
5。 Zma does not う talk much り think Ofhersdf O WOrk o mOVe
around a great deal

6。 We knoW that Zecrla → haS trouble making up her mind り haS made
abrupt d∝ iSions before Oヽ SOmnOlent O lackS intelligence

Que亜 0“ :綱
Lnぉ げ Йθω … a副 続
′′ b″ Й′aCCO禦 お げ 油″
"加 “
■
，
132 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

event, the glad tumult, the gorrulous glee of reception, irked him: I saw
he wished the quieter morrotry was come.
Brontd
-Chorlotte
7. The happiness of the reception was expressed in a) lively chatter b) endless
questions c) tears of joy d) baleful gilances

8. The man described feels a) unctuous b) ambivalent about the event

c) cynical about happiness d) placated by noise

9- When Swift invites us to consider the race of Struldbugs who never die,
we are oble to ocquiesce in imagination. But a world where two ond two
makefive seems quite on o different level.
Russell
-Bertrond
To acquiesce in a fantasy is to a) tolerate it b) obfuscate its premises
c) divulge it d) willingly envisage it as a reality

Questions l0 and I l.
She was oshamed of herself tor her gloom of the night, based on nothing
more tongible than a sense of condemnotion under an orbitrory low of
society which had nofoundotion in Nature.
Hordy
-Thomos
10. The character's gloom ivas basedon a) a stipulation b) something not
concrete c) a bOte noire d) superstitious fears

ll. In the "arbitrary law of society" Hardy refers to a) an ambiance b) a

coup c) mores d) the canaille
12. Rorond's rife was not exemprory. The ',chanson,' had taken poins to
show that the dbaster at Roncesvalles was due to Roland,s heidstrong
folly and temper.
-HenryAdoms
According to Adams, Roland a) was not a paragon of wisdom b) was
execrable c) lacked temerity d) lacked 6lan

Questions l3 and 14.

For Daisy yos young ond her artificiar worrd was redorent
of orchids ond
pleosont, cheerful snobbery and orchestras which
set the rhythm of the
yeor, summing up the sadness and suggestiveness
ol life in new tunes,

13. Fitzgerald describes Daisy's world as figuratively a)

-F. Scott Fitzgerald
snobbish b) a terra
incognita c) degenerate d) suffusia *ittr ir"g."n..

14. In keeping with her surroundings, one wourd expect Daisy

to be a) an
ingrate b) complacent c) a mendicant d) dormani

15. we need to witness our own limits transgressed, and some

rife posturing
freely where we never wonder.

-Henry David Thoreou

 Review Test 4 / 133

Transgressed literally means a) overlooked b) foreseen c) drawn

d) oversteppcd

16. It only bottle which I have ever witnessed, the only battlelield I
was the
ever tod while the bottle wos raging; internecine war; the red republicans
on the one hand, ond the block imperiolbts on the other'
David Thoreou
-HenrY
Thoreau describes the battle-betlveen two armies of ants-as a) costly to both
sides b) raciatly motivated c) ludicrous d) fraternal

17. Hoving dwett thus long on the subiects ond aim of these poems, I sholl
,"quot the reoder's permission to apprise him of a lew circumstanca
relating to their style '''' wordsworth
-william
Apprise means a) convince b) inform c) expunge O remind

Nature
18. The dew fetl, but with propitious softness; no breeze whispered.
seemed to me benign and good. . . .
_Charlotte Bronti

The falling of the dew is described as a) miraculous b) mundane c) a

requital d) boding well
 LESSON 41

The nouns in this lesson all name people.

egotist-person completely preoccupied with himself, a selfish and conceited per-
son, especially one who expresses this self-concern in speaking or writing.
ieter
is a complete egotist; if you're wilting to talk about him att the
time, thi two of
you will get along splendidly.
necfomrncer-person who practices black magic, a sorcerer, especially one who
claims to communicate \ryith the dead. A necromancer toti her
that her late hus-
fund did not approve of her remarrying.
miscreant-villain, criminal, wicked person. In the end the miscreont was given
a
lde sentence.
neophyte-new convert, a beginner or novice, especially in a belief or religious
order. Neophytes are often the most zealous proselytkersfor their betiefs."
virtuoso-person with great skill, an accomplishec pirformer,
a master . It takes
natural aptitude os well os immense dedicotion lo becomi a musical
virtuoso.
The term virtuoso is borrowed from Italian and is usually used
in connection
with the arts, especially music. The plural can be either viriuosos
or virtuosi.
epicurc-person with fastidious or highly cultivated tastes in food or
drink. The
epicure sniffed the cork before tasting the wine.
arblter-person having power to determine a dispute, a judge. The arbiter
ruled in
favor of the union.
demagogue-leader who exploits mob passions, one who stirs up passions
and
prejudices to gain power. Hitler wos a demagogue who
buih iis power on
national pride and hatred of outsiders. The Greek demos means .,thl people"
nd agogos means "a leader." originally, a demagogue was a reader of the
common people. Since over the centuries those in power have for
the most part
distrusted the common people as an irrationa ana unstable rabble,
the word
has taken on a negative connotation.
kleptomanlac-person who steals compulsively. A kleptomoniac will often steal
items of very small volue.
dipsomaniac-person with an uncontrollable desire for alcohol. A dipsomonioc con-
not resist drinking d liquor is available.
philistlne-person without genuine aesthetic appreciation or who denigrates high
culture, person with narrowly conventional views on art. she regards onyone
who doesn't run to the premiere of every art exhibit as a philistine.

EXERCISE I circle the letter of the best choice to comprete each sentence.
l. A demagogue seeks
a) friendship b) security c) political power d) anonymity

134
 Lesson 41 / 135

2. People with are kleptomaniacs.

,i un un.ontrollable desire steal b) illicit gains
to c) delusions of
grandeur d) morbid fears about health
3. A neophyte is a kind of
a) thief b) connoisseur c) tyro d) tyrant
4. One who Practices is a necromancer.
a) a wind instrument b) black magic c) astrology d) law
5. Someone who the fine arts is sometimes called a philistine'
a)underwritesb)practicesc)veneratesd)isindifferentto
6. An epicure .----- food'
a).prefersdrinktob)isveryparticularaboutc)lovesanykindof
d) eats enormous amounts of
7. An arbiter conflicts.
a) foments b) avoids c) judges d) suffers from
.

8. The egotist alwaYs thinks about

a) himself b) Pleasure c) obligations d) gettingahead
9. One who deserves is a miscreant.
a) approbation b) consternation c) opprobrium d) recidivism
10。 You can expect from a virtuoso.
a) a polished performance b) unsophisticated taste c) antisocial
acts d) an obsession with food
I l. A dipsomaniac suffers from a powerful urge to
a) sleep b) drink c) steal d) convert others

EXERGISE II From the following list of names, pick a term to match the
descrip-
tion giu"n in each of the sentences below. write the names in the blanks.

philistine kleptomaniac
demagogue arbiter
virtuoso epicure
neophyte necromancer
miscreant egotist
dipsomaniac

l. The referee decided the round in favor of the challenger'

2. Faust used incantations to call up the infernal powers'

3. The man was referred to a psychiatrist for help because he couldn't control
his drinking.
4. The criminal seemed to feel no compunction for crimes that had shocked
the whole nation.
5. His speeches inflamed the audiencewith a self-righteous hatred of all who
did not subscribe to his political program'
6. She found herself pilfering things she didn't even want or need.
136 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

7. This pianist is deservedly one of the best-known artists on the concert

circuit today.
8. For years the writer kept a journal in which she recorded
every transitory
thought and every nuance of feeling.
9. The nun was preparing to take her final vows.
10. The man discouraged his son from reading poetry by saying that it was
for sissies.

ll. She does not demand that the decor be elegant, only that
the fare be
consistently fresh and impeccably prepared.

EIEBCISE III circle the retter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. According to legend, Merlin's rival Morgan le Fay practiced a) epicurism
b) arbitration c) necromancy d) virtuosity
2. A person frequently charged with petty larceny may well suffer from
a) demagoguery b) kleptomania c) dipsomania d) philistinism
3. The opposite of a virtuoso is a) an arbiter b) an American c) a sculptor
d) a dilettante
4. A neophyte probably needs a) a greater egotism b) further indoctrination
c) rehabilitation d) lengthy incarceration
5. A miscreant performs a) evil actions b) altruistic deeds c) classical music
d) rabble-rousing entertainments

The Hlstory of s Label

The etymology of philistine goes back through Latin, through Greek, to
the Hebrew
p'lishtim. Philistine was long familiar to English readers aJthe name of the tribe
in
the OId Testament with whom the Israelites waged war. In 1867 the English
critic
Matthew Arnold coined a new meaning, labelling as Philistines his middle-class
con-
temporaries. Philistines were those who "believe most that our greatness
and wel-
fare are proved by our being very rich, and who most give their liv-es
and thoughts to
becoming rich." They are at war with culture and blind to aesthetic and
intellectual
values. Thanks to Arnold, we now use philistine in this sense.
Hebrew p'lishtim is today also translated palestinian. To call a smugly
conven-
tional person a philistine is in a sense an ethnic slur against palestiniani, though
using the word in two different forms disguises the fact.
 LESSON 42

Thenounsinthislessonnamehumanbehavior'feelings'andqualities'
derision_mockery,scorn'ridicule.Darwin,stheorythatpeopleweredescended
fromape.likeancestorswasgreetedinmanycirclesbyderision.Thenoun
derisionis based on the verb diride, "to laugh at'
mock',or ridicule"'
feeling of weary dissatisfaction'
ennui-boredom, lack of interest or enthusiasm,
pleasure could engage his in'
sufferingfrom ennui, hefound neither work nor
is related etymologically to
terest. Ennui, uoiior"ed unchanged from French,
the older English wordannoY'
or affected display
histrionics-an overacting, meloiramatic behavior, a theatrical
pure histrionics; she hadn't
of feeling. fne todiir's rolting on the floor wos

been hurt in the slightest'

by a failure or disap-
chagrin-disappointment, embarrassment or vexation caused
pointment..Thefoitureoftheplayfitleditsbockerswithchagrin.
party toys and silly costumes
levity-lightness of spirit, frivoliti, playfulness. The
epitomized the levity of the occosion'
of the mon's
foible-a small, harmless weakness or eccentricity of character' One
stack it neatly on the dresser iust be-
foibtes wos alwoys to count his change and
fore retiring.
report lay in its deliberate
mendacity-lyrru, lie, falsehoo d. The mendacity of the
" rrngrorwoman,s vierrys. The adjective is mendacious.
distirtiin oj th"
giddiiess, a sense of apparent rotary movement of the body. rfte
'phystcian
"ertigo_airziness, ofthe heart'
explained thot the vertigo was due to a chronic disease
to recklessness or im-
audacity-daring, boldness, personal iourage amounting even
pudence.Thegeneralwasknownforhisaudacityondpersonalchorisma;no
The adjective
one disputed his couroge, though many questioned his iudgment.
is audacious.
rancor-malice, ill will, bitter or deep anger. In spite of the insults
of his opponent,
the mon remained colm and answered without rancor'
th9 characters of the
sagacity-wisdom, discernment, keen judgment' Among all
- Hebrew Scriptures. Solomon is most famedfor his sagacity'

E[E[[ISE I Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
l.Mendacityisa)courageousb)innocentofguilec)keenlyintelligent
d) untruthful
loss of
2. Vertigo involves a) public mockery b) a sincere affection c) a
equilibrium d) fine judgment

3.Anobjectofderisionisthetargetofa)jealousyb)extradition
c) benevolence d) contempt
137
138 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

4. A person who indulges in histrionics a) hams it up b) deceives others

c) hones his talents d) is subtly persuasive
5. Chagrin results from a) justified pride b) humiliating disappointment
c) circumspection d) boredom
6. Audacity is an extreme form of a) bravery b) falsehood c) humor
d) phobia
7. Levity suggets a a) citation for heroism b) solemn rite c) frivolous
mood d) theatrical performance
8. A foible is a a) quirk b) query c) quibble d) quick temper
9. A person known for sagacity is a) tenacious b) keenly perceptive
c) pedantic d) courteous
10. Rancor is a feeling of a) reciprocity b) remorse c) nostalgic loss
d) bitter hostility
ll. Ennui can result from a) protracted tedium b) heartfelt sorrow c) a
stunning victory d) a lively interest in others

EIIEBGISE II p.om the folowing rist of nouns, pick a term to match each
description given in the sentences below. write the nouns in the blanks.

rancor vertigo
sagacity derision
levity audacity
ennui histrionics
mendacity chagrin
foible
l. Having boasted to everyone that the famous director would attend, the host
was annoyed and embarrassed when his guest of honor failed to show
up.

2. The amateur thespian gave a ludicrous performance, gaping and howling

with laughter when the script called for mild amusCmint.

3. Dizzy from exhaustion and loss of blood, the woman felt the world spinning
around her.
4. Not only is she brilliant;
she is able to look at situations objectively and
seethroughpeople'spretenSionstotheirtruemotives
5. I wasted the whole day feeling vaguely tired and depressed, unable
to decide
what to do.
6. They took a huge risk, mortgaging their futures to back the film, but their
daring paid off.
7. For nearly twenty years the old man harbored a bitter hatred for the man
who had cheated him.
8. Her dislike of the telephone inconvenienced no one but herself; although
she would answer it when it rang, she would happily walk blocks to
avoid calling someone herself.
 Lcsson 42 / 139

9. Every word out of their mouths was a lie'

laughingstock of
10. Before his steamboat proved successful, Fulton was the
peopll ttiO called iis Vessel“ Fulton's Folly。 ''

giddy to listen seriously'

ll. Giggling at their own jokes, the kids were much too

EIEICISE III Antonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase most nearlY its oPPosite.

l. rancor triumPh
2. audacity normal sense of balance
3. chagrin good will
4. sagacity understand manner
5. histrionics timiditY
6. mendacity truthfulness
7. vertigo seriousness
8. levity enthusiasm
9. ennui foolishness

sentences with words

EIERCISE [U From memory, try to complete the following
Write your
from this lesson. The first letter of each answer is given before the blank.
answers in the blanks.

1. A mild eccentricity that hurts no one is a [fl

2. The guru's reputation for [s] was borne out by the
soundness of his advice.

3. An infection of the inner ear resulted in ; the patient

was advised not to drive.

4. Morale reached its nadir as forced inactivity led to widespread

lel
lvj
The whole company was listless and bored'

5。 IMI is a habit with him: he lies just for practice.

6. The fans expressed their [rl by writing angrY letters to the

local newspapers and by picketing the games.
7. lHl are a way of overreacting to a situation, of
dramatizing one's emotions in an exaggerated way'
8. A person exPresses [d] by making jokes at another's
expense.

9. The girl felt [cl when her attempt to make friends was
rudely rebuffed.
10. The last day of school was a day of sheer [] in which no
work was accomplished and all sorts of 800fy pranks were tolerated.

ll. The [al of the plan was its best guarantee of success; the
enemy did not anticipate such a recklessly bold attempt'
 LESSON 43

More nouns:
austerity-quality of being strict, rigorous, very simple,
or unadorne d. To save
money they went on an austerity program in witch
they cut down on their
driving ond on nonessentiar purchases. The adjectiv e is
ouitere.
dilemma-choice of two undesirable arternatiu.r, uny awkward
choice, a probrem.
she was faced with a dilemmo: if she went back
would be latefor the closs.
for the book she needed, she
enigma-a riddle, anything that defies explanation. The
origin of the statues on
Eoster Island is an enigma. The adjecti,veis enigmatic.
euphemism-the substitution of an inoffensive or mild
expression for a more
straightforward one. Like many other peopre, he used
and ,,possed
awoy" os euphemismsfor ,,dead." ",g,one,,
euphoria-extreme feeling of physical well-being or happines
s. Their euphoria at
being the ftrst ever to crimb the mountain wos hiightened
by their narrow
escape from death- Both euphemlbrn and euphoria
inc-lude the Greek prefrxeu,
meaning "good, well. " Euphemism is a kind of speaking
*.ii-using a good or
lucky word in prace of an evil one-and euphori i,
u ,!nr. ot welr-being. The
same root gives us a name meaning ,,well_born,,,
Eugene.
oblivion-a complete forgetting, rtat. of being utterly fo".gott"n.
The names of the
clerks who wrote the chronicles have been tost in obtiiion;
no one today knows
who they were. The adjective obtivious means forgetful
or utterly unaware, as
in: Absorbed in his work, he was oblivious o7 the ti-me.
empathy-a sense of identification with another person.
Her empathy with her
brother was verv stlong; she generailv knew ihot i, iii
having to escplain, Both empathy and sympathy are
ii"tins without his
built on the Greek root
pathos, "feeling." They are crose in meaning,
urt ,v-patt for greater
detachment. with empathy, you not onry feer ro..itGv "uo*
in common with
another person, but you put yourself in the other,s place
feel what he or she is feeling. The samepa th rootgives
i tt", you seem to
us:
pathology-the study of disease or the sympioms,
course, and effects of a particular
disease. A high temperoture is part of the pathorogy
of scarret rever.
idiosyncrasy-pecuriar tendency of an individuar, ai
ulsuar, oaa, o, individuar
habit of behavior. His idiosynuosies were sufficient to label
him eccentricbut
not sufficient to classify him os insane.
longevity-lifespan, long life. The Bibte credits the
first generations of men with a
longevity unheard of today.
brevlty-briefness, conciseness, terseness. Brevity is the essence
ofiournalism.

140
 Lesson 43 / l4l

EIERGISE I Antonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite in
meaning to the given word.
l. empathy: a) lack of judgment b) subjectivity c) freedom from disease
d) detachment
2. euphoria: a) depression b) great daring c) harmony d) sense of
balance

3. longevity: a) low stature b) shortness of life c) decrepitude d) dismay

4. idiosyncrasy: a) universal idiom b) predilection c) universal trait
d) prognostication
5. euphemisms: a) condolences b) pronouncements c) earthy language.
d) bad influences
6. austere: a) pecuniary b) obese c) scandalous d) luxurious
7. enigmatic: a) clear and obvious b) plentiful c) hard and fast
d) insoluble
S.brevity:a)solemnityb)lengthc)heightd)insufficiency
9. dilemma: a) no-win situation b) indecision c) solution
d) narrow-minded attitude
10. oblivious: a) trendy b) fully aware c) durable d) commiserating

EXERCISE II riu in the blanks from the tist of words below'

enlgma oblivion
euphemism idiosyncrasy
longevity austeritY
euphoria dilemma
brevity Pathology
empathy

l. An intuitive with the child allowed the woman to

understand his anger.
2. Having seen many cases of hepatitis before, the rescue worker immediately
recognized its

3. Observers were struck bY the of the great man's stYle of

living. His home was very sparsely furnished and except for a few books,
he owned little of value.

4. The one-act play was embarrassingly bad: was its only

virtue.
5. Michael had either to lie to his parents or hurt theh feelings; there was no
other way out of his
6. Cocaine can induce a sense of in which the user feels
tremendously energetic.
7. Much of the increasc in aVerage over the past couple of
centuries is due to a drastic reduction in infant mottality'
lA / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

8. Since certain common words describing sexual activity are banned from
the
airwaves, the announcer used a polite
9. Although her novels were popular in their own day, they have since sunk
into
10. His personality is a(n) full of mysteries and apparent
contradictions.
ll. A(n) - parml,ss in itSelf― humming t0 0nesdf,always
slceping with the windows shut― ―can annoy a sensitive roomlnate。

EIEBOISE III svnonvms. Draw a rine connecting each word with the word
or
phrase that means most nearly the same.

l. brevity emotional identification

2. pathological substitute word
3. empathy quirk
4. idiosyncrasy emotional high
5. dilemma puzzle
6. euphemism forgetfulness
7. austerity strictness
8. oblivion length of life
9. longevity unpleasant choice
10. euphoria typical of a disease
I l. enigma shortness

EIEBGISE [lI circte the retter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l' If the longevity of sharks is a matter of dispute, scientists
are not certain

a) howlongtheylive b) wheretheybreed c) howrargetheycangrow

d) whether they are social animals
2. The adage "Brevity is the soul of wit', means that effective witticisms are

a) funny b) elaborate c) personal d) pointed

3. An enigma usually people.
a) isolates b) intrigues c) nauseates d) corrodes
4. Euphoria is most likely to result from
a) careful planning b) a debilitating ilrness c) mental composure
d) suddengoodfoftune
5. A person who empathizes feels
1f ahvaVs in the right b) what someone else feels c) incensed
d) oblivious to others
An idiosyncrasy is a habit or preference putting hot
sauce on watermelon. -like
a) deservingcensure b) worthtrying c) thatsocietyconsiderstaboo
d) not shared by most people
 Lesson 44 / 143

7. In a dilemma, one generallY has

a) two alternatives b) not enough information c) a second chance
d) emotional outbursts
8. is a common euphemism for the taboo word damn'
a) Save b) Hell c) Darn d) Damnation
9. As part of her work, the pathologist analyzes
a) tissue specimens b) dreams c) patients d) expenditures

LESSON 44

The words in this lesson and the next one are all verbs'
the population of
decimate-destroy a large part of. The Btack Death decimated
Europe in the mid-iourteenth century. Built on the Latin
tootdec, "ten," deci-
mate literally *a"nr "destroy one-tenth of" a population, but
it is used more
loosely to mean "destroy a large part of." It is allowable
to use it of the Black
than a tenth of
Death, for instance, e"en ttrouln the plague killed much more
EuroPe's
PoPulation.
quickly or freely'
encumberlr".igt aor"n, hinder, burden, prevent from moving
Encumberedbyourbaggage,wealmostmissedthebus.Athingthaten-
cumbers is anemcumbronce;the adjective to describe itis
cumbersome.
placate, calm the temper of . The irate customer wos moiliried by
mollify-soothe,
the manager's apology and prompt action'
temporize-"*d. action, delay in order to gain time. He sought to
i.*"ilat"
temporizewhilethesunwosinhiseyes.TheLatintempus(time)isalsoatthe
rootoftemporory(foratimeonly)andcontemporaneous(happeningatthe
same time).
discern-perceive, identiifi. fn" IoC was so thick we could barely discern the other
cors.
sore will
fester-grow worse, become infected, produce pus. Left untreated, the
(ulcer), refers literally to what hap-
fesler. Fester, from the Latin word /istula
pens to sores as they ulcerate and form pus. Figuratively, it can describe any
ugly, messy sort of decaying or embittering'
debase, corrupt, make invalid or ineffective. My trust in him
yidslf\r,saken, was

vitioted by the rumors I had heard of his underhonded methods.

coqiecture-guess, speculate. We ore certain that Shokespeare and Ben Jonson
knew eoch othei, but we can only conjecture whot they might have said to each
other over drinks at the Mermaid Tavern. The noun is the same, coniecture.
deviate-stray, turn aside from. Under cross-examinotion, the witness did not dev'
iotefrom his storY one ioto.
lU / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

slmulate-pretend, feign, give a false appearance

of. Although she hod guessed
what the gift would be, she simutaticl surprise when
age.
she uiwropped tie'pi"*-
abomlnrte-loathe,_hate, feel disgust for. .I abominote
all lows that deprive people
of their righs. Something that deserves to be abomina
ted is abominable.
s€quester-seize by authority, set apart in seclusion.
The jury was sequestered until
the members could reach a verdict.

EIEBCISE I Artonyms. circle the letter of the word or phrase

most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
l'
vitiated: a) placated b) strengthened c) devitalized
d) demoralized
2' encumbered: a) free of impediment b) welr organized
c) sruggish
d) ascetic
3. conjecture: a) convince b) make probabre c) puzzre
certainty
over d) know with
4. sequestered: a) unidentified b) arrested c) not
set apart d) not sought
after
5. decimated: a) in extreme penury b) pushed
to the rimit c) restored to
full number d) happy
6. temporize: a) make excuses b) rush into action
c) pray
d) procrastinate
7. abominate: a) adore b) waste away c) console
d) ingratiate
8. mollified: a) confused b) unchanged c)
outraged d) unkempt
9. discernibre: a) incognito b) foggy c) imperceptibre
learned
d) not abre to be

10. fester: a) cure an ulcer b) stall c) be somber d) heal

I l. deviate: a) Iook- ahead b) stick to a straight course
c) march in time
d) err on the side of safety
12' stimurated: a) autonomous b) rearistic
c) bored d) genuine

EXER0ISE II choose the best word to complere each sentence. write it in

the
blank.
l. The authorities certain documents and held them as
evidence.
decimated mollified
conjectured sequestered
Despite pressure to compromise, the representative stood on principle,
refusing to --- from her original position.
deviate discern
vitiate fester
 Lesson 44 / 145

3. The twins looked eerily identical; from a short distance I could not
the slightest difference between them.
deviate sequester
conjecture discern

4. The contract was by the fact that the seller did not have a
legal right to dispose of the property.
festered sequestered
vitiated temPorized

5. We know only that the ship never reached port. What actually happened to it
is pure
abomination conjecture
encumbrance simulation

6. Small-scale automata were constructed and filmed to

dinosaurs.
vitiate mollify
simulate deviate

7. If the package is too to carry, we can have it delivered.

decimated cumbersome
conjectural mollified

8. As unemployment worsened and services declined, the neighborhood

with anger and despair.
temporized festered
deviated simulated

9. Wildlife preservationists the slaughtering of endangered

species for their Pelts.
ｉ
ｉ

ｔ  
ｔ

ｅ
ａ
ｖ

discern
ｅ
ｅ
ｓ
ｓ
ｅ
ｑ
ｕ

abominate

10. The press secretary attempted to the offended parties bY

explaining away the President's remarks.
abominate temPorize
mollify decimate

Scheherazade by telling the Sultan stories, thus postponing

her execution night after night.
encumbers festers
simulates temporizes

12. The fruit trees were by an infestation of flies.

encumbered discerned
abominated decimated

EIHCEE III Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. An abominable practice is one that ought to be a) disseminated
b) stopped c) protected d) reiterated
146 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

2. one way a speaker can temporize is to a) ask for the question to be

repeated b) cut her remarks short c) try to please everyone d) take
an unpopular stand
3. To vitiate a good intention is to a) follow it b) counterfeit it c) corrupt
it d) endorse it
4. A sequestered witness is kept a) on the witness stand b) in a hospital
c) on call d) in isolation
5. If a situation is festering, it is a) deteriorating b) ameliorating
c) resolving itself d) changing rapidly
6. A conjecture is similar to a) evidence b) a hypothesis c) a clue d) a
statement

7. A simulated action is a) not legal b) pretended c) pretentious d) not

provable
8. To deviate from a path is to a) cease progress b) stop and wait c) forge
a coalition d) turn aside
9. If a person discerns something, he or she is able to a) define it b) see it
c) measure ir d) spend it
10. one needs to mollify a person who has been a) soothed b) intimidated
c) pampered and petted d) angered and upset
I l. A decimated community has been a) segregated b) severely reduced
c) quarantined d) plagued by problems
12. A person may feel encumbered by a) lack of restraint b) a sense of
elation c) too many commitments d) a vacation

LESSON 45

abdicate-give up a power or function. The fother abdicated his responsibitity by

not setting a good examplefor the boy.
gesticulate-use the hands and face to convey meaning or supplement speech; ges-
ture, especially in a lively way. since they understood little spangh, she gestian-
lated to communicote the directions.
importune-ask, urge, or plead repeatedly; pester with demands or requests. /m-
portuned by herfamily, the womanfinally agreed to sell thefarm.
 Lesson 45 / lO

lntercede-intervene on behalf of, request or plead for someone else's benefit. The
porolee osked his preacher to intercede with tle iudge'
pctuso-read carefully, study. She perused the text, absorbing a much of the i4for-
mation as she could.
interpolote-change a text by inserting new material , The ditor interpolated the lat'
'est printed'
news into the proofsittst before the book wa
censurc-disapprove, urame, condemn as wrong. The unprofessional conduct of
severol of its memfurs hos been officiolly censured by the organizttion.
deslgnate-name, appoint, indicate, point out or mark. we will rendezvorc at the
time and place daignated on the sheet.
relegate-transfer to get rid of, assign to an inferior position' He relegoted
the
policeman to a suburban beat.
extort-urge strongly to a proper or necessary action, admonish to do what is right'
We uhorted him to repoir the damage he hod done'
lncite-urge to action, ,ori", inspire. The presence of his idol in tlu balcony incited
him to an extroordinory pei|ormonce. While exhort always implies a desirable
words
action, one can incite toboth good and bad actions. Also, one must use
to exhort, but almost anything-language, an idea, a spectacle-can incite a
person to act.

EIERIISE I Circte the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. To censure is to a) opress sorrow b) restrict use c) express
disaPProval d) exterminate
2. A worker may be relegated to a new job if his superior a) trusts him
b) has little confidence in him c) promotes him d) rewards him for
outstanding work
3. A person who intercedes wants to gain a) recognition for himself b) a
benefit for someone else c) a position of power d) inside knowledge
4. An exhortation is an attempt to a) persuade b) reject compromise
c) undermine confidence d) provoke a quarrel
5. A designated route is qne that has been a) proposed b) put off
limits c) marked out d) disPuted
6. An interpolation will make a text a) mori legible b) more enjoyable
c) shorter d) longer
7. Perusing a text requires a) less time than reading it b) fluency in more
than one language c) a blue pencil d) concentration
E. A person who is being importuned is harassed by a) incessant demands
L) groundless complaints c) public derision d) vandalism
9. A person gesticulates in order to a) breathe b) write c) communicate
d) digest

10. By aMicating, an individual a) abandons a function b) abandons a

child c) shoulders a burden d) Sains status
l4t / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

BmflSE II choosp the best wgrd to complete each sentence. writc it in the
blank.
l. Thopanhandler gtusrred Steve down the block, hiEn fOr bus
fare.
censuring
importuning interceding with
A tteful of the manuscript revealed nothing more serious
than a couptre-qf 'typographied errors.
relegation gesticulation
perusal interpolation
3. An elected official who puts special interests above the public good deserves
to be
incited abdicated
importuned censured
4. The pathOs and irony of Antony's speech,culminating in the spectacle of
Caesar's bloody corpse, the crowd to violence.
incites designates
exhorts importunes
5. Disgusted with her efforts at revision, the writer thc half‐
finished story to the back of the files where she wouldn,t have to look at
it.
designated abdicated
perused relegated
6. We Mark to be team captain, since he seemed to know the
rules.
censured designated
relegated interceded with
7. It is thought that Beowulf as we know it is not all by the same poet; some
lines are probably later designed to give the poem a
more Christian character.
intcrpolations perusals
gesticulations exhortations
8. The ghost of his royal father the young Hamlet to avenge
his unnatural murder.
exhorts abdicates
interpolates relegates
9. The instructor, who had faith in the student's integrity, offered to
the administration.
peruse intercede with
interpolate incite
10. Edward VIII of England his throne in order to marry an
American divorc6e.
designated censured
gesticulated abdicated
Since he could not be heard in the gale wind, the sailor
wildly to signd for help.
gesticulated importuned
interceded exhorted
 Lesson 45 / 149

EXERCISE III Antonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase most nearly its oPPosite.

l. interpolate promote
2. censure commend
3. peruse dissuade
4. abdicate take on responsibility
5. relegate refuse to speak uP for
5. intercede skim rapidly
7. exhort edit out

EIEACISE [U Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.

1. To put a problem ..on the back burner" is to a) focus on it b) relegate

it c) designate it d) imPortune it
2. To incite to heroism is to a) aspire to it b) peruse it c) inspire it
d) interpolate it
3. One who importunes is a) persistent in pleading b) exhorted by
circumstances c) abdicating his proper role d) always gesticulating
4. People who intercede, importune, and exhort are all trying in various ways
to a) help a third party b) censure misconduct c) arbitrate a
dispute d) influence another person's actions
5. Effective preachers punctuate their exhortations with appropriate
a) intercessions b) gesticulations c) relegations of sin d) censures of
virtue

LESSON 46

The items in this lesson and the next are all adjectives.
salient-conspicuous, very noticeable, important, prominent. The solient points of
the speech could not beforgotten by the audience. Salient comes from the Latin
verb solire, participle saliens, "leaping." A salient feature, say of a landscape
or a building, is one that figuratively leaps out at you and grabs your attention.
banal-commonplace, trite. The novel was competently written but so banal thot I
could predict the entire plot by the time I hodfinished thefirst chapter.
deleterious-injurious, harmful. DDT, taken internolly, has a deleterious elfect on
the body.
arcane-secret, mysterious, hidden. Once researchen had deciphered the ancient
script, the orcane science of the priest cult wos revealed. Arcone is usually used
150 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

not to refer to physical objects but to knowledge or practices. A cave is hidden,

but the significance of something may be arcane.
esoteric-limited to a few, secret . The esoteric rites of thefraternity were held sacred
by the members ond were never divulged to outsiders. Like arcone, esoteric is
not used to describe things physically hidden but things hidden from the under-
standing of most people, often because they are too sacred, difficult, or special-
ized for common knowledge.
clandesdne-secret, furtive. The conspirators held a clandestine meeting. Clan-
destine describes something deliberately kept secret because it is wrong, illegal,
contrary to the wishes of those in power, or liable to be prevented or punished
if known.
nascent-in the process of being born, just beginning. By pouring money into buitd-
ing public roods, the government indirectly subsidized the nasceniautomobile
industry in the early days of this century. Nascent is used figuratively for any-
thing that is very new and has yet to establish itself firmly.
ludicrous-apt to raise laughter, ridiculous. The scene lflas .ro ludicrous that the
oudience roored with laughter.
nebulous-hazy, indistinct. He had a nebulous theory obout memorizing key words
as an oid to study, but he wos so vague about the detaits we could never
Jigure
out how to apply il. Nebulous comes from the Latin noun nebula, ..mist.,, A
nebulous idea is ill-defined or vague, like an object seen in a fog.
adept-skilled, well versed. A journalist is adept at the use of wordi.
spurious-false, counterfeit, phony. The junta's promise of free elections was
spurious, calculated solely to disorm world opinon.
ersatz-substitute, imitation, usually of inferior quality. The burger wos of ersatz
beef made from soybeons. Spurious and, ersotz both mean "not genuine,,, but
in different senses. Spurious is more general and usually implies an evil motive.
Ersatz most often describes a product designed to serve as a substitute for
another, as margarine is ersatz butter.

EIERCISE I choose the best word to complete each sentence. write it in the
blank.
l. It has been proved that smoking has consequences to the
heart and'untt'
ludicrous
:r.i:,::,o* banal
2. The toddler's understanding of numbers was not adequate
for counting the coins she had found.
banal spurious
salient nSscent
3. Through long practice, Sheila has become at ping pong.
ersatz deleterious
adept ludicrous
4. To take useful notes, a student must be able to pick out the
points of a lecture.
salient arcane
adept nebulous
 Lesson 46 / l5l
5. Nylon became poPular as a kind of silk, cheaper and
easier to produce than the real thing.
spurious banal
nascent ersatz

6. The questions on the teacher's exam were so general and the answers so
that we couldn't tell whether the students had learned
anything in the course or not.
nebulous clandestine
esoteric ludicrous

7. The middle-aged woman was shocked and deeply hurt when she discovered
that her husband had been carrying on a(n) affair for
over a year.
esoteric adept
nascent clandestine

8. Once the document had been exposed as a forgery, the plaintiff's

claim to the property was dismissed.
spurious banal
arcane salient

9. To avoid fighting every time we meet, my brother and I stick to

and harmless topics like the weather.
ersatz deleterious
banal arcane

10. The topic of the economist's talk-the economic reorganization of Poland

between 1945 and 1955-was too to engage the interest
of the nonspecialist.
clandestine nebulous
ludicrous esoteric

IXIERCISE Antonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite in
II
meaning to the given word.

l. ludicrous: a) awe-inspiring b) riotous c) public d) carefully rehearsed

2. clandestine: a) ordinary b) above board c) illicit d) forceful
3. ersatz: a) mutant b) elegant c) genuine d) complicated
4. arcane: a) sedate b) barely perceptible c) legible d) commonly known
5. nebulous: a) cloudy b) specific c) well documented d) smooth
6. adept: a) unchanging b) clumsy c) common d) rife
7. salient: a) sleepy b) unsalted c) sharp d) inconsequential
8. deleterious: a) calm b) savory c) fantastic d) beneficial
9. esoteric: a) easy to understand b) native c) realistic d) sensible
10. nascent: a) flourishing b) modern c) dying d) solemn
ll. banal: a) extraordinary b) surreptitious c) permitted d) extraneous
12. spurious: a) unadulterated b) legitimate c) fraudulent d) incipient
152 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EIEBGISE III rin in the blanks from the list of words below.
arcane ludicrous
adept nascent
nebulous salient
l. An association which has been created and so far has few members may be
described as .

2. A person who mounts a publicity campaign needs to be at

public relations.
3. The spectacle of pigs dancing in tutus may best be called
4. A symbol understood only by a few initiates and mysterious to everyone else
ls_. -
5. In New York City, the twin towers of the World Trade Center are a(n)
feature of the skyline.
6. A social movement which has ill-defined goals and no effective leadership may
be described as

LESSON 47

mordant-biting, caustic, cutting, sarcastic. Her mordant wit coutd moke anything
appeor ridiculous. Derived from the Latin verb mordere, mordant literally
means "biting."
lndigenous-native to a country or region, occurring naturally in a given place. The
indigenous trees of the Rockies are mostly evergreens.
contingent-dependent upon something happening, conditional. F/is plons were
contingent on the arrival of the check on time.
rcsilient-able to spring back, bouncing back to a former state or position. rie
spring wos still resilient after years of use. Resilient applies literally to physical
objects like springs, and figuratively to things like health and temperaments.
asinine-stupid, silly. The heckler's comments were too asinine to deserve a serious
answer. Asinine is descended from asinus, the Latin word for ,.'ass,, or
"donkey," a proverbially stupid animal. The English word ass is a cousin of
the Latin.
subliminal-below the threshold of awareness, too quick or subtle to be perceived.
A subliminal stimulus is too minor for the conscious mind to notice but it may
make an impression on the unconscious mind. ln Latin, suD limine r."ni,
literally, "below the threshold.',
tenable-capable of being held or defended. The club hod no tenoble reasonsfor the
exclusion; it was purely o case of prejudice. The Latin root tenere means ,,to
hold"; it is the same root that gives us tenocious (holding firmly) and, tenont
 Lesson 47 / 153

(one who holds or has use of a property). The adjective frequently appears in its
negative form, untenable.
viable-able to live, capable of surviving without extraordinary a,d. Only the viable
seeds will sprout. Yiable is used especially to describe a fetus or premature
infant developed enough to survive outside the uterus. It may also be used
loOsely to mean "possible" or "practical," aS in: Our only viable olternative is
to sell the house.
portentous-foreshadowing future events, especially somber ones. The thunder-
storm thot broke as we were leaving seemed portentous, but in fact the weather
was lovely for the rest of the vacation. A portent is an evil omen. The verb
portend means "to foreshadow, especially to warn of coming evil or disaster. "
Only things, not people, portend. People predict or foretell future events;
natural occurrences portend them, at least to superstitious minds.
frenetic-frenzied, frantic. Frenetic activity is evident in the dormitory iust before
exams. Like frenZy, frenetic comes from a Greek word, phrenitrs, meaning
"inflammation of the brain, madness." Frenelic indicates a ctazy, disorga-
nized, excited kind of activitY.

EXERGISE I ritt in the blanks from the list of words below.

contingent asinine
untenable frenetic
viable portentous
indigenous subliminal
resilient mordant
l. The flash of light was so quick it was almost : we couldn't
be sure if we had seen it or only imagined it.

2. The applicant's acceptance by the college is on his

completion of high school successfully'
3. Although they seemed so tiny and weak at first, all the pups in the litter
and grew up to be healthy beagles.

4. Her date's wisecracks about the program made the girl

feel ashamed that she had taken it so seriously.
5. In Shakespeare's play, happenings-lions in the streets
and night birds screeching at noon in the marketplace-augur the murder
of Caesar.
6. Since his major support has evaporated, his position in the company is
。He will probably resign very soon.

7. Even for a farce the play was unusually I heard a twelve-

year-old describe it as "dumb."
8. The reporter was pounding the typewriter in a , last-
minute effort to get the story in under the deadline for the morning
edition.
9. After a good night's sleep, his enthusiasm reasserted itself
and he looked forward to resuming work.
154 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

10. The gypsy moth is not to New England but was brought
there originally as part of an ill-fated scheme to produce silk.

EIEBGISE II Artony-s. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase most nearly its opposite.

l. asinine without bite

2. mordant auspicious
3. viable obvious to the senses
4. frenetic unconditional
5. portentous intelligent
6. contingent imported
7. subliminal indefensible
8. resilient not springy
9. tenable calm
10. indigenous doomed

EIERCISE III circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
t.A must be resilient.
a) mirror b) floor c) trampoline d) pool
2. A contingency plan is one to be followed only if
a) certain circumstances arise b) everyone agrees c) it is guaranteed
d) war is declared
3. Someone who is packing frenetically is probably
a) moving lethargically b) folding clorhes neatly c) stuffing things in a
suitcase d) ahead ofschedule
4. A viable business is one that is likely to
a) make outstanding profits b) survive c) be sold for back taxes
d) changelocation
5. Some rare natural occurrences, such as a brilliant comet or the appearance of
a nova, may be interpreted as a portent by
a) optimists b) astrologers c) astrophysicists d) amateurs
6. A subliminal message is not
a) written b) truthful c) consciously received d) dependent on context
7. An indigenous species occurs in a particular country.
a) in zoos b) everywhere c) ominously d) naturally
8. A tenable proposition is one that can be reasonably
a) refuted with certainty b) proved by examples c) defended
d) outlined
9. A mordant editorial is one that probably
a) exhorts to action b) attacks with wit c) is obscene d) doesn't get
printed
10. An asinine suggestion probably
a) won't work b) registers unconsciously c) bodes ill d) is insightful
 Lesson4E / 155

Adjectives from Animals

Lots of proverbial expressions, or clich€s, compare people to animals. A person can
wolf down a sandwich, chicken out, eat like a bird, and feel as happy as a hog in
slops. Less familiar versions of such comparisons' or metaphors, often come from
Latin roots. As we have seen, asinine literally means "donkeyJike." Check your
dictionary for the literal meaning of:
bovine
porcine
aquiline
leonine
Such adjectives are a small manifestation of the universal impulse to connect
human society with animal life. In ancient mythologies all over the world, gods and
heroes are associated with certain creatures. The Egyptian Horus, for instance, has
the head of a hawk, and the Greek Hercules wears a lion's skin. Families in Native
American tribes had totem animals with whom they claimed blood kinship. Nor is
our animal imagery only something left over from more primitive days. Manufac-
turers use names like Mustang and Rabbit to sell cars and also today many places in
America have their totem animals-Razorbacks in Arkansas, for example, and Dol-
phins in Miami.

LESSON侶

Throughout the medieval period and into the modern era, medical knowledge in
Europi was based on the theory and practice of medicine among the ancient Greeks.
Mosiof our medicat, including psychological, terminology comes from Greek roots,
although the actual words may have been coined quite recently. Even today re-
searchirs will use Creek words to invent a "scientific" name for a condition' The
following words are all from Greek roots.
phobia-abnormal and persistent fear. The potient hos such o phobia of cots that
shefeels uncomfortable even seeing pictures of them. Phobia is often combined
with other roots to describe specific kinds of fear, as in:
egorephobia-unreasoning fear of open places. A person sullering from agora'
inoUo may be unable to go outdoors without experiencing panic. The word in
Greek literally means "fear of the marketplace. "
xenophobia-unreasoning fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners. The
xenophobia of the candidate expressed itself in an extreme ond unrealistic isola-
tionism.
megalomania-mental state marked by delusions of grandeur or an extreme passion
for greatness, power, or glory. People who conceive a desire to rule the world
suffer from megalomania. Manio is Greek for "madness." Megalo is a com-
bining form from megos (great, large), and is also at the root of megaphone
andmegoton.
156 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Studenrs

hypochondrlr-morbid and unrealistic anxiety about one's health. Obsessivefear of

germs can be a symptom of hypochondria. ln Greek the word means i.under
the cartilage below the chest," where the condition was once thought to origi-
nate. The hypo form, meaning "under," gives us many terms, including fiypo-
thermia (lowered body temperature) and hypodermic (under the skin).
telekinesls-the movement of a physical object without being touched, iupposedly
by spiritual or psychic force. Researcherc in psychic pheiomena torcd *niu*
for telepathy and telekinesb. Tete is the combining form meaning .,distance',
(as in telephone and television) and kinesis means
"movement.,, Telekinesis is
an example of a modern coinage that derives from Greek, although the Greeks
never invented it.
phenomenon-perceptible occurrence, any event that can be observed and described
scientifically. Tropical hurricanes ore o common phenomenon on the East
Coast in the lote summer and eorly falt. Phenomenon can be confusing because
it is also sometimes used to mean "an extraordinary event," as when we say
that a play was a phenomenal success at the box office. Avoid this use in formal
prose. The plural isphenomena.
criterion-standard of judging. The answer wos used as a criterion
for grading the
test papers. The plural is criteria.
plethora-excess, superabundance, too great quantity. The garden by mid-August
was producing o plethora of tomatoes, more than we could possibty
use.
synopsis-summary, condensed version, brief review. Each chapter o/Tom Jones
begirs with o synopsis of the main events of that chapter.

EIEBCISE I synonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.

l. megalomania movement of bodies at a distance

2. agoraphobia abnormal sense of power
3. hypochondria summary
4. criterion abnormal fear of illness
5. phenomenon observable occurrence
6. xenophobia fear of open space
7. telekinesis fear of strangers
8. synopsis overabundance
9. plethora unreasoning fear
10. phobia standard for judgment

EIER0ISE II choose the best word to complete each sentence. write it in the
blank.
l. The office received such a of applicants that we were not
able to interview even all of the highly qualified candidates.
phobia hypochondria
plethora synopsis
2. The medium claimed that he could lift objects and bend spoons
by
xenophobia megalomania
hypochondria telekinesis

-.
 Lesson43 / lS7

3.The was in the doctor's office every week complaining of

ills that were mostlY imaginarY.
agoraphobic megalomaniac
telekinetic hypochondriac

4. Psychiatrists attempt to cure by uncovering their origins in

early traumatic exPeriences.
synopses phobias
phenomena criteria

5. The woman was in her suspicions of anyone who looked

different.
xenophobic phenomenal
megalomaniacal agoraphobic

6. As the comet approached, astronomers prepared to photograph the

phenomenon plethora
phobia telekinesis

7。 His was such that the idea of the open ocean or an empty
plain was a nightmare to him.
xenoPhobia criterion
agoraphobia plethora

8. In the grip of a she began to believe that she was a spe-

cial messenger of God.
agoraPhobia megalomania
hYPochondria telekinesis

9. Since the interest of the book does not lie in its plot, a mere
of the incidents cannot convey its true flavor'
plethora criterion
xenophobia synopsis

10. To practice science is to conform to certain of evidence.

phobias synopses
criteria phenomena

EXEICISE III
Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
l. A woman who is a hypochondriac is likely to a) panic easily b) be afraid
of heights c) get a great deal of exercise d) medicate herself
2. The phenomena of science are a) the result of childhood traumas
bf impossible events c) rare occurrences d) natural events that can be
perceived and analYzed

3. A phobia differs from a normal fear in that it a) is without cause b) is

irrational c) passes quickly d) is unconscious
4. A synopsis of a man's biography can be expected to give a) a psychological
analysis b) a brief account of his life c) harangues d) an impression
of fearfulness
5. The opposite of a plethora is a) a dearth b) a superfluity c) a normal
condition d) an anxietY
153 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

6. A set of criteria allows one toa) evaluate things relative to each other
b) have an abundance of something c) exorcise fears d) produce
formulae
7. As often portrayed in popular books and films, telekinesis is supposed to
operate by a) nescience b) potential energy c) parental introjects
d) psychic energy
8. An agoraphobic can be expected to feel uneasy a) in an enclosed space
b) meeting strangers c) in a large, bare room d) with animals
9. A classic example of a megalomaniac was a) wordsworth b) Hitler
c) Robert E. Lee d) Edgar Allan poe
10. A national xenophobia is likely to result in a) a laissez-faire economy
b) increased tourism c) a persecution of those perceived as
outsiders d) free elections

LESSON 49

The suffix -ology comes from the Greek word /ogog meaning ,.word" or .,descrip-
tion. " In combination with other roots, -otogy signifies ,.the study of, ' , as in:
ethnology-study of human cultures. A journal of ethnology pubtisha articles on
the folkways and customs evorved by various humon cimmunities. Ethnotogy
is one branch ofanthropology.
gerontology-study of human aging and the old. Gerontology is becoming an in-
creasingly importont field os our population becomes relativell older.
Geriatria, built on the same Greek geras (old age), is more specifi-cally the
medical study of the diseases of old age.
ophthalmology-branch of medicine concerned with the eye. The medical student
chose ophthalmology as her specialty becouse she was
familiar with visuol
handicops in her ownfomily.
etiology-study of causes or origins, the cause of somethin g. Much research is now
being directed to the etiologlt olcancer.
paleontology-study of prehistoric life forms through fossil remains. As part of
their training in paleontology, students uncover fossits in the field. The paleo
stem comes from the Creek word for ..ancient,,'as in:
paleography-study of ancient writings. Interpreting the signs impressed on cloy
tablets five thousand yeors ago is the province of pateogrophy. Graph or
graphy means "writing," asintelegrapft, "writing at a distance." It is a root
found in many English words, including:
calllgrrphy-handwriting, especially when practiced as an art. Before the printing
press, calligrophy was highly regorded os o skill both practicol and decorative.
 Lesson 49 / 159

nomenclotutt-the names of things in any art or science, the whole vocabulary of

technical terms that are appropriate to any particular branch of science. Tfte
nomenclature ol botony includes very many terms coined from Greek and
Lotin roots.
orthopedics-branch of medicine concerned with bones and joints. The setting ol
fractured bones is port of training in orthopedics.
mnemonics-study or practice of aiding memory' devices such as formulas to help
one remembet. Folk rhymes such os "Thirty doys hath November" ore
mnemonics that organize informotion so that it is easy to recall'
taxonomy-science or system of classification. The toxonomy of law Jirst separotes
the civilfrom the criminol.
jurisprudence-philosophy or theory of law. The courses for the most part empha-
' 'size the prictical opplication of the law rather than iurisprudence or legol his-
tory.

EffiBGISE I D.a* a line connecting each kind of knowledge or study with its
object.
l.orthopedics bones and joints
2. taxonomy causes
3. mnemonics folk culture
4. nomenclature scientific terms
5. ophthalmology old age
6. paleographY theory of law
7. gerontology beautiful handwriting
8. jurisprudence eye
9. calligraphy ancient writing
10. paleontology fossils
I l. etiology classification
12. ethnology memory

EIERGISE II Choore the best word to complete each sentence. Write it in the
blank.
l. The lives of people in a nursing home are likely to be of interest to a(n)

calligrapher paleographer
gerontologist orthoPedist

2. The basketball player went to a surgeon specializing in

for a knee operation.
orthopedics ophthalmology
mnemonics gerontology

3. The way food is produced and distributed within a particular culture is of

interest to
ethnologists calligraPhers
taxonomists Paleontologists
l6o / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Srudents

4. One of the concerns of is the evolution of primitive visual

sign systems into complete written languages.
paleontology nomenclature
mnemonics paleography
5. One task of is to analyze the social theory that underpins
a legal system.
orthopedics nomenclature
ophthalmology jurisprudence
6. After a thorough examination, the recommended an
operation to remove the cataracts.
etiologist paleontologist
ophthalmologist orthopedist
7. lrhe traditional of life into two major kingdoms-animal
and plant― cannot accOnllnodate rnany lnicroscopic organisms.
calligraphy taxonomy
jurisprudence ethnology
8. The law has a highly specialized ; part of the work of the
beginning law student is to memorize this vocabulary.
jurisprudence paleography
nomenclature gerontology
9。 is a skill requiring patience and manual dexterity.
Taxonomy Calligraphy
Mnemonics Etiology
10. Theorizing about the structure, habits, and evolutionary relationships
of
extinct life forms is the work of _
ethnology ophthalmology
paleography paleontology
I l. Discovering the of a disease is a crucial step in its
prevention.
etiology ethnology
taxonomy gerontology
12. She purchased a book on in the hope of improving her
memory, but then she forgot where she left the book.
jurisprudence nomenclature
mnemonics etiology

EXERGISE III circte the letter of the best choice to complete each senrence.
l. As their names suggest, both paleographers and paleontologists a) are
students of human culture b) are concerned with ancient things
c) must be trained as biologists d) must be trained as linguists
2. Botanical taxonomy is organized in part by a) committee b) genre
c) glossary d) genus and species
3. Etiological myths are myths that purport to a) explain the origins of
things b) predict the end of rhe world c) give the nomenclature of
a culture d) describe legal obligations
 Lesson 50 / 16l

4. cerontologists study a) extinct organisms b) prehistoric cultures

c) attitudes toward aging d) ancient writing
5. A professional calligrapher must know a) a variety of scripts b) bone
itructure c) the theory of vision d) every aspect of the culture she
studies
6. Mnemonic formulas usually rhyme because a) verse sounds poetic
b) verse is easier to remember than prose c) they are set to music
d) verse is more arcane

LESSON 50

Here are a few of the many words in English that have been adopted from the names
of people and places.
stentorian-vCry loud, booming. One fan, a man with o stentorian voice, could be
heord clearly above the crowd. According to Homer, the Greek herald Stentor
had a voice equal to that of fifty men.
spartan-very simple and hardy, disciplined, self-denying. In addition to the usual
closses, the military school imposed o spartan regimen of physical training.
A
city-state of ancient Greece, Sparta was famed for its highly disciplined and
warlike culture.
mesmerize-hypnotize, transfix, render moti6nless. Deer are sometimes hit by cars
when they become mesmerized by the headlights- Mesmer was an eighteenth-
century German physican who became famous treating patients by hypnotic
suggestion.
passages'
bowdlerize-censor, expurgate, remove supposedly offensive or obscene
The lyrics of the song were bowdlerizedfor perfurmance on television Thomas
Bowdler was an Engiishman who in l8l8 edited Shakespeare's works, deleting
all the parts he considered unfit for family reading'
chauvinist-person motivated by zealous and unreasoning patriotism, an extreme
nationalist, a person unreasonably devoted to his or her own group. "My
country right or wrong" is the slogan of a chouvinrsl. Nicolas Chauvin was a
French soldier, a follower of Napoleon, who become notorious for his extreme
nationalism. In recent years, chouvinism has broadened to include all kinds of
irrational devotion, such as to one's race or sex.
narcissism-excessive selfJove, especially love of one's own body or appearance'
Adolescents lrequently hove a narcissistii preoccupation with their own looks.
Narcissus was the young man in Greek mythology who fell in love with his own
reflection in a pool and so pined away.
quixotic-foolishly idealistic, unrealistically hopeful or romantic. Their hopes of
quixotic. The word
founding a utopion community of perfect harmony proved
comes from Don Quixote, a novel by Cervantes, a Spanish contemporary of
Shakespeare. Don Quixote, the deluded hero, is a country gentleman who, hav-
162 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

ing read too many romantic tales of knighthood, sets out to perform chivalric
deeds, his ideals ever blinding him to the true nature of what he finds.
draconion-very harsh, cruelly severe. The inhabitants suffered under the gover-
nor's draconian tyronny. Draco was an early ruler of ancient Athens. The laws
he codified have not survived, but they were reputed to be very severe, prescrib-
ing the death penalty for even minor offenses. The name Draco, appropriately
enough, means ..dragon.',
martial-military, warlike, suited to war. The sculpture depicted the emperor in a
martial attitude, dressed in ormor with sword drown. Martiol literally means
"belonging to Mars", the Roman god of war.
protean-able to take many forms, very versatile or variable. An actor with a pro-
tean talent is oble to impersonate mony ddferent kinds of choracters.In Greek
myth, Proteus was the Old Man of the Sea who herded seals for Poseidon. He
could change his shape at will, but if one could hold onto him through all his
metamorphoses, he could be forced to reveal the future.

EXERGISE I synonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.

l. narcissistic shape-changing
2. spartan very loud
3. martial ruggedly disciplined
4. bowdlerized overly nationalistic
5. stentorian cleaned up
6. protean hypnotized
7. quixotic extravagantly idealistic
8. chauvinistic appropriate to war
9. draconian inhumanly harsh
10. mesmerized self-regarding

EXEICISE II rin in the btanks from the list of words below.

draconian protean
bowdlerized spartan
mesmerized quixotic
chauvinistic narcissistic
stentorian martial
l. Renaissance nobles were expected to train themselves in
studies such as swordplay and fortifications.
2. What we call love is a feeling, expressing itself in a vast
variety of forms.
3. Crimm's fairy tales are often published in verslons in
which their original violence is considerably toned down.
4. A law that demands death for stealing a loaf of bread is truly

5. They lived in a style, laboring hard and surviving on

meager fare.
 Lesson50 / 163

6. Her attitude is so she takes it for granted that other

cultures have nothing to offer.
7. For a moment he had a vision of himself aPpearing like a
knight in shining armor to save the day'
8。 「rhe tones of the speaker boomed out across the open-air
assemblY.

9. One can become staring at a monotonously moving object

such as a Pendulum.

loo Heis a man who believes no one is as handsome as

hilnself.

E[E[[ISE IIL Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
A male chauvinist feels that a) women are different b) men
are superior
l.
towomenc)monogamyiswrongd)astrongdefenseisthehighest
priority
2. Originally, people were mesmerized as part of a) a legal
penalty
u) mititaiv training c) a medical treatment d) an augury

3.Aproteanproblema)cannotbesolvedb)demandsasimplesolution
c) is mythological d) has many manifestations
4.Anarcissistlikestolooka)atmoviesb)atthestarsc)atpaintings
d) in mirrors
5. A stentorian voice is a) grating b) hoarse c) hard to ignore
d) inaudible
"b) reflective c) hardy
6. A spartan individual is not a) self-indulgent
d) flakY
7. Martial arts are those suited to a) women b) battle c) marriage
d) Greeks
E. A quixotic plan is likely to a) succeed b) be complex
c) founder
d) garner broad suPPort
g.Draconianlawsaregenerallya)treatedwithcontemptb)unenforceable
c) feared and hated d) lenient
10. one who bowdlerizes is probably a) a prude b) a
poet c) illiterate
d) salacious
Using your dictionary'
The following words are also derived from proper names.
Make sure you know what each word has
fill in the blanks with the original names.
come to mean.
boycott
maudlin
bedlam
mentor
maverick
daguerreotYPe
 REVIEW TEST 5

l. He said very modestly that he was loath to kilt them, if he could help
it;
but that those two were incorrigible vitlains, and had ieen the authors of
all the mutiny on the ship. . . .

-Daniel Defoe
Incorrigible villains are a) criminars manqu6 b) neophytes c) megalomaniacs
d) miscreants

2. For my part, I obominate oll honorable respectable toils, trials, and

tribulations of every kind whatsoever.

Abominate means a) hate with a passion b) revere

d) avoid "l "*n*rT#irnr{''u"''
3. I wanred . . . ro surrender personalry all that remained of him with me to
that oblivion which is the last word of our commonfate.
-Joseph Conrod
is a) a reminiscence
The oblivion referred to b) a state of being utterly
forgotten c) a sepulcher d) quixotic

4. An old-fashioned man would hove tost his.sense.s or died of ennui before

this.
David Thoreau
The old-fashioned man would have died of a) fear
-Henry
b) boredom
c) exhaustion d) a pathological condition

Questons 5 and 6.
I discerned he was now neither angry nor shocked at my audacity.

-Chorlotte Brontii
5. Another word for discerned would be a) conjectured b) learned
c) hoped d) perceived

6. Audacity is a kind of a) emotional trauma b) rudeness c) daring

boldness d) euphoria

Questions 7 and 8.
If I have not therefore importuned you on this head, you will impute it
only to my fear of offending the lady, by endeavoring to hurry on so

164
 Review Test 5 / 165

the rules of de'

blessed on event, faster thon a strict complionce with all
cency and decorum will permit.
_Henry Fietding

7. To importune is to a) pester with pleading b) mollify c) petition in

writing d) notifY
8. To impute something is to a) proscribe it b) peruse it c) ascribe it
d) recommend it

Questions 9 and 10.

Hebegonhislecturebyorecapitulationofthehistoryofchemis.
try....HethentookacursoryiiewoTthepresentstateofthescience
and explained mony of ils elementary terms'
_Mory Shelley

g.Thelastthingthelecturerdoesisintroducehisstudentstoa)the
chronology of chemistry b) the nomenclature
of his science
c) contingent facts d) an interpolation
frenetic b) is banal c) covers only
10. A cursory review a) is necessarily
salieni points d) covers esoteric knowledge

Questions I l-13. urged by the

These obiections were eagerly embraced ond os Wtulontly
heretics were, for the most port,
vain science of the Gnostics. As those
polygamy of
averse to t:he pleasures ol sense, they morosely
arraigned the

the potriarchs, the gatiantries of David, ond the seraglio of solomon.

of the unsus'
The conquesiof thi lond of canoan, and the extirpation
no-
pecting notives, they were at a loss how to reconcile with common
tions of humanity ind iustice. . . . The Mosaic account of the creation
and fall of man was triuted with profane derisiol
by the Gnostics, who
would noi tirtrn with patience to the repose of the Deity after six days'
labor' " '
-EdwardGibbon
I l. ln their attitude toward physical pleasure the Cnostics were
a) encumbered b) nebulous c) enigmatic d) austere

the creation was one

12. The Gnostics, reaction to the Biblical account of
of b) contempt c) nascent
a) aavocacy understanding d) profound
resPect

13. According to this passage' the natives of Canaan

were a) tyros b) the
victims-of genocide c) xenophobic d) chauvinists

14.Thereisnobetter,thereisnomoreopendoorbywhichyouconenter
intothesludyofnoturalphilosophythonbyconsideringthephysical
phenomena of a candle.
-Michoel FaradaY
By phenomena Faraday means a) existence b) process of creation
c) processes or occurrences d) rare events
166 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

Questions l5 and 16.

The choleric city captain seems impotient to come to oction. . . . His
martial finery, as he morches along, inspires him with on unusual eleva-
tion of mind . . . by which he rooks up at the barconies with the
fierce-
ness of a saracen conqueror: white the phregmatic Aldermai, now
become venerable both for his age and his outhority, contents iimsetf
with being thought a considerable man. . . .
Mandeville
-Bernard
15. The captain's appearance is a) ceremonial b) warlike c) spartan
d) understated

16. As a phlegmatic man, the Arderman is a) aged b) optimistic

c) ludicrous d) slow to anger

17 ' Most of the confidences were unsought-frequently I havefeigned sleep,

!iilii#Ill"#;,li"Li:;!i:;::"1:l';,:;::!::,,f!;:#Z;,:,',o*u*
Scott Fitzgerald
-F.
Levity here suggests: a) lack of attention b) merodrama c) a flippant
attitude d) silence

Questions l8and 19.

Recently many of our best naturalists have recurred to the view
pounded by Linnaeus, so remarkabte
first pro-
for his sagacity, and haie placed
man in the same Order with the Quadrumana, under the ritte of the pri-
motes.
Darwin
-Charles
lE. The probrem of how to crassify man biorogicafly is a question of
a) gesticulation b) ethnology c) paleography d) taxonomy

19. To Darwin, Linnaeus was notable for his a) caution b) great

wisdom c) self-disciprine d) ability to foresee the future

20. courd this be he who, of rote, with sour visage, and in snuffy
hobiliments, administered
. . . the Draconion Low oj the academy?
Allan poe
-Edgar
The laws of the academy are a) concerned with education b)
stuffy
c) egregiously harsh d) arcane
 LESSON 51

The words in this lesson and the next are adjectives'

politician can
adroit-skilhill, clever in dealing with people or siflrations ' An adroit
or unnecessarily antag-
push his own program wiiout pirsonally alienating
onizing his oPPosition.
were assiduous
assiduou*xtremely careful, attentive, or persistent. The couple
soap'
followers of the most popular nighttime
aesuitory-wltSout definiti goal, pl-, ot enthusiasm. After a
brief and desultory
attimpt to clean her room, she went to the movies'
such fulsome
fulsome-overly flattering, lavish to the point of being disgusting.
praise is more appipriate to a fanieUer than to a supposedly obiective re-
port. Many p.opi" ior" ur" litsome more broadly to mean simply "full,
'abundant,,;
without a pejorative overtone. However, in formal usage it's bet-
ter to give the word its narrower sense and avoid ambiguity'
glutinous'
gtutinous-gluey, gummy . The resin flowed from the tee, thick and
allowed to win afew dollars at first'
irUiU"-"iily iooled oicheated. Wien they're
gullible vlictims will assume that the game isn't rigged'
state of the
inchoate-yet unformed . The conferees speculated on the inchoate
univeise in the first nanoseconds after the Big Bang'
lay sprawled on
inert-motionless, without power to move or interact. The actor
gases, such as helium and neon,
the stage, so inert he ippeared dead. lnert
are those with a great degree of stability'
gold, paper money has
intrinsic-part of the IssentiJnature of something . Unlike
let it represent
no inirinsic value; for convenience, society merely agrees to
wealth'
macabehaving to do,{^ with rtaoth in q
rr;rh death on
a gruesome or eene way' Macabre tales of
of years'
vampires have persisted infolklore ior hundreds, if not thousands,
prefer ple-
pnneiafrf the common pedle and therefore coarse or crude. We Plebs was the
beian hamburgers to ihe'picl<y elegance of nouvelle cuisine'
plebeian expresses an
Roman word for the common people; etymologically,
antidemocratic disdain.
young,
-
-retentivrable or tending to retain, especially knowledge. For someone so
incidents
iy sister had a renlarlubly retentive mind; she could recall minor
from months before.

167
16E / Essential Vocabulary for College_Bound Students

EIEBCISB I Antonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase most nearly its opposite.
l. desultory clumsy
2. intrinsic interactive
3. adroit purposeful
4. inchoate suspicious
5. assiduous added later
6. glutinous carelessly sloppy
7. inert forgetfrrl
8. macabre aristocratic
9. fulsome nonadhesive
10. retentive restrained
I l. plebeian cheerfrrlly lively
12. gullible fully formed

BIER0ISB II choose rhe besr word to complete each sentence. write it in the
blank.
l. The author's memory for the period of his imprisonment was so
that he could repeat whore conversations he had heard
in languages he did not even understand.
inchoate fulsome
retentive glutinous
2.'He was so in his duties that his employers had no
complaints.
assiduous plebeian
intrinsic macabre
3. The landscape seemed lifeless, ; from the porch to the
horizon nothing moved.
adroit intrinsic
inert assiduous
4. They went on a shopping expedition, browsing from
counter tO counter withOut any clear idea Of what they↓ ereお 。
king fOr.
glutinous retentive
macabre desultory
5. The pudding stuck to the pan in a and unappetizing mass.
gullible fulsome
plebeian glutinous
6. The Twilight Zone, Tales from the Darkside, and similar programs present
stories designed to send a shiver ofhorror through
their fans.
ｉ
ｔｉ
ｎｄ
ｅЮ
ｒ

inchoate
ａ

macabre
7. We believe some fundamental rights are to human beings:
they cannot rightfully be conferred or canceled by government action.
glutinous intrinsic
desultory retentive
 Lesson 51ノ 169

8. With so little experienoe of the world, even intelligent children are

and easily misled.
adroit gullible
inert assiduous

9. As Democratic senators sat in stony silence, the applause of the Republicans

became even more
retentive desultory
inchoate fulsome

10. The idea was still , just a hazY notion that she had filed
away in the back of her mind.
inchoate plebeian
inert intrinsic
11. Matthews was an experienced executive, and enough to
avoid being fired in the corporate shakeup'
glutinous macabre
adroit gullible
an Australian
12. The headmaster walt an old-fashioned snob who considered
accent too for refined ears.
gulible fulsome
plebeian desultory

BIEBCISB IIICircte the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
1. A glutinous substance feels a) smooth b) sticky c) fiury
d) hot

-
2. lf apercon goes about a task in a desultory w?,Y, i! witt3otie
*'*^pfsfreO a) openly b) at all
c) wi[inely d) efficiently
3.Aninertobjectisincapableofa)burningb)beingliftedc)moving
under its own power d) being understood
4. An adroit maneuver is likely to be a) grrsly b) peculiar c) violent
d) successful

5. One plebeian tastes is likely to consider himself a) a radical

- who despisesjoe
bl an average c) unfortunate d) superior to the common herd
6. A person can develop an unusuall; retentive mind by a) training himself
to
iemember details b) sociatizing widely c) taking too many
dnrgs
d) reading
7. An inchoate feeling can't be a) nostalgic b) clearly verbalized
c) forgiven d) expressed indirectly
8. A tnrly macabre decor might remind one of a) a crypt b) home c) a
foreign land d) a countrY inn
9. A gullible character is a) heroic b) always suspicious c) easily made
a
fool of d) enviable
10. An assiduous student probably spends a lot of time a) earning
money
b) in the infirmary c) calling home d) in the library

11. one intrinsic quality of a gem is its a) hardness b) settitu

c) sentimental value d) current market value
12. Fulsome praise is to be expected from a a) rival b) flatterer c) stranger
d) cynic
 LESSON 52

anticipatory-tending to anticipate or take the future into account. The govern-

ment imposed controls as an anticipatory measure to
forestall devaluition,
auspicious-favorable, predicting a prosperous or happy future. The voyage had an
auspicious beginning, with clear skies and a fresh wind. The Latin root of
auspice ("favorable sgn") means to foretell the future by observing the be_
havior of birds.
celestial-of the heavens or sky. In celestial navigation one can determine one's
position and course by observing the stars and other heavenly bodies.
onerous-burdensome, too heavy or troublesome. caring
for aging parents can
become an onerous responsibility, especially
for a youig adult.
optimal-best, most desirable. under optimal conditio,ns, ie plant will continue
to bearfruit until the first heavy frost.
perniciou+-deadly, exceedingly harmfrrl. ALDS is a pernicious disease;
at this time
the long-term survival rate is zero.
potabl+safe or suitable for drinking. The tap water was brownish but potable.
punrlent-producing or consisting of pus. when the wound became purulent,
the
medic applied wet compresses.
raucoutdisagreeably loud, strident, disorderly. The audience, most of whom had
the film memorized, was so raucous that we couldn't hear the
dialogue.
robust-vigorous, healthy, full of strength or flavor. By dawn the ranch iour" ,o,
filled with the robust smells of coffee and bacon.
rudimentary-fundamental, primitive, undeveloped. The ancient archaeopteryx
had
rudimentary wings; it was capable of gtiding but not of sustainedflishi.
supine-lying face up; more loosely, too passive, lacking will or ene.gy. She
asleep supine in the sun, a hat over herface.
fell

BIBBCISB I F.iU in the blanks from rhe list of words below.

anticipatory auspicious
celestial onerous
optimal pernicious
potable purulent
raucous robust
rudimentary supine
1. In the classroom situation, each child achieves the best
he is capable of.
2. The teaching load was so that the union threatened to
strike unless the teachers were given more free periods for preparation.
170
 Lesson 52 ノ 171

3. I found him in the porch hammock, snoring peacefully.

4. The Black Death was the most plague in Europe's
history; it killed off more than half the population'

5. The community had to use bottled water until the well water was once again
deemed
6. The crowing of the grackles was enough to wake the
dead.

7. The wound was deeP but not ; it was clean and free from
infection.
8. The boy's knowledge of engines was he understood the
principles involved but he didn't know how to make repairs'
9. Astrologers believe that people's lives are influenced by
events.
10. Soothsayers consulted their almanacs to determine the most
-;
day for the wedding.
The more strategy took into account population shifts
projected over the next twenty years, shifts that other proposals ignored.
12. With excellent muscle tone, a slow pulse, and low blood pressure, the
athlete was as as most men thirtY Years Younger.

EIEIIISB II Synonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase closest in

meaning to the given word.
l.celestial:a)enormousb)flavorfulc)heavenlyd)star.studded
2. optimal: a) pure b) sunny c) free to choose d) most favorable
well
3. auspicious: a) productive b) backward-looking c) arrguring
d) enjoYrng someone's Protection
4. anticipatory: a) looking atread b) open to all c) offrcial d) democratic
5. pernicious: a) feared b) deadly c) underhanded d) apprehensive
6.purulent:a)pornographicb)producingpusc)medicald)disgttsting
T.onerous:a)hardtocomprehendb)ancientc)heavytocarry
d) sinele
8. robust: a) hearty b) smelly c) flutry d) bland
9. potable: a) edible b) carry-on c) drinkable d) liquid
l0.rudimentary:a)decadentb)unnecessaryc)culturald)basic
ll. supine: a) overactive b) reactive c) flat on one's back d) dead to the
world
12. raucous: a) noisy b) outofcontrol c) placid d) rocky
172 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

BIEBCISE III
circte the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. A rudimcntary tail probably a) is very long b) occurs only as a result of
genetic mutation c) is used as a defense d) does not slio* a high
degree of specialization
2. The word purulent can be most literally applied to a) a sore b) an
editorial style c) a personality type d) a social class
3. An executive seeking to develop an anticipatory approach to marketing
would be especially interested in a) insurance against lawsuits Ufpast
performance of the product c) predictions of fuiure trends
O; cutting
costs
4. A robust wine is a) fun-bodied b) aged c) sparkling d) white
5. Foroptimalperformance,acarmust be a) drivenfast b) keptwell-tuned
c) leased d) freshly painted
6. The celestial realms are a) in the tropics b) overhead c) submerged
d) in the underworld
7. Raucous behavior is to be expected a) from swans b) from rabbits
c) at wild parties d) at elegant boutiques
8. A pernicious infestation of a field spells a) a bumper crop b) little insect
damage c) dry weather d) crop failure
9. Doing work that is too onerous reads eventually to a) boredom
b) exhaustion c) a promotion d) overconfidence
10. An example of a potable substance is a) apple juice b) motor oil c) a
sponge cake d) a sponge
I l. A supine position suggests a) a lack of resistance b) mental illness
c) alertness d) brute strength
12' Auspicious flight conditions include a) a safe landing b) a clear weather
forecast at takeoff c) a change in destination oiice on the wings

LESSON 53

The words in Lessons 53, 54, and 55 are all verbs.

assuag+lessen the pain or distress of something, ease the severity of. A heartfelt
apology can do wonders to assuage wounded pride
chronicle-record a history continuously and in time order. The news media
chronicled the scandal as it unfolded day by day.
cosset-treat indulgently, pamper. The parents cosset the girl, letting her have
whatever she wants, no matter how rudely she demandi it.
 Lesson 53 I 173

embellish-ornament,
--- - -patchwork make more pleasing by adding decorative details' Tfte
quilt was embellished with a variety of ingicate stitching'
the depth of; understand. I can't fathom what drove her to
get
fathom-measure
--- -hersetf The noun/a thom is a unit of measure for
fired the firsi day on the iob.
*ut"i depth it is equal to six feet. To fathom is 1iterdly to measure water
depth, oifiguratively to "get to the bottom" of something'
such as
foment-encourig", inciie, esficially something destructive or disruptive,
itielf discontent by refusing to explain
rebellion. Tie adminiitraiion fomented
or justifi its Policies.
retired men would
hobmb-socialize, associate with as a friend. on sunny days the
hobnob on the benches in front of the post ffice'
inveigirail, bitterly protest. In unusually strong language' the editorial in-
ieighed against coitinued American support for the South African regimg'
-5o1d of the
pilory Jp for public ridicule or contempt. Ford's 9c9!d9nts and slips
' iongu, made him an easy target; comediins had a field day pillorying his f.re-
locked
quint blunders. e pimr, is a'wooden frame in which public offenders,
bythehandsandhead,wereonceexposedtothemockery(andhurledgar.
bage) of the Public.
*-p#.enui, or hesitate because of principles . Believing it wrong to inform on
y"tto* students, Ted scrupled to report in the drug dealing he'd witnessed in
the dorm.

action
EIEICISE From the following list of verbs, pick a term-to.match each
I
described in the sentences below. write the verbs in the
blanks.

assuaged chronicled
cosseted embellished
fathomed fomented
hobnobbed inveighed
pilloried scrupled

l.Hestirredupthedemonstratorsuntiltheybrokewindowsandoverturned
cars.

of the christian era to the twelfth century, monks at

- From the beginning
2. -win"ti"rter,
and other centers kept records of events in
canteruury,
England.

assortment of
3. A frequent partygoer, Sabrina enjoyed socializing with a broad
people.
press made
4. By satirizing her peculiar appearance and ignoring her ideas, the
the activist a laughingstock.
just couldn't bring
5. He felt guilty that he wasn't helping his pal, but he
himself to steal the test answers.
enough'
6. The crew took a sounding to determine if the channel was deep

she could not possibly

7. She made the story more interestrng by adding details
have known.
174 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

8. The old woman fed the cat salmon and let it sleep on her pillow

9. A couple of aspirin soothed the pain.

Ю
° ℃hemendy agam並 』o宙 鴫繊p面 m b place
騰s:F鮮 耀漁 、 “
EIERCISB II Antonyms. circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
l. hobnob: a) abstain from drinking b) love indiscriminately c) snub
d) accept correction gracefully
2. pillory: a) elicit admiration for b) question closely c) refuse medication
d) conspire against
3. assuage: a) wake up b) sting c) remain motionless d) rekindle
mahe
4. scruple: a) act unethically b) act without thinking c) act a part d) act
normally
5. chronicle: a) leave unmeasured b) leave unrecorded c) grow younger
d) chastise
6. embellish: a) remove the dye from b) be disdainful of c) deflate
d) strip bare of ornament
7. fathom: a) sail smoothly b) be at anchor c) fail to comprehend d) fail
to notice
8. inveigh: a) ignore b) support warmly c) shirk d) regard doubfrrlly
9. foment: a) discourage from actlng b) cook without leavening c) take
pride in d) feel hopeless
10. cosset: a) ptay with b) please c) take to heart d) demand much of

EIEBCISE III circte the retter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. The word chronicle in a title implies that the events described a) are
purely fictitious b) are recounted in the order they happened c) mix
fact and fiction d) concern royalty
2. A person who foments rebellion is a) a peacemaker b) invested in
maintaining the status quo c) an innocent bystander d) an agitator
3. one embellishes a design by a) reproducing it b) entarging it c) adding
things to it d) simplifying it
4. writers pillory thinkers whose ideas they a) respect but disagree with
b) agree with c) despise d) are uninterested in
5. Inveighing carries a tone of a) levity b) bitterness c) gentle humor
d) reconciliatiori
6. cosseting is the treatment usually associated with a) a pampered pet
b) a farm animal c) an equal partner d) underlings
 Lesson 54 / 175

fathom another person's feelings by a) criticizing them

7.
- can often
One
ir"rrrrfy b) putting oneself in the other person's shoes c) refusing to
consider them d) speaking soothingly
fears by a) calling home when one is late
8.
- can assuage a parent's
One
L) A*uv. .taving out late c) getting caught in a lie d) pleading the
Fifth
A person who likes to hobnob needs a) hobbies b) a boat
9。
c) many
friends d) a lot of moneY
10. Amanwhoscruplestocheatonhisincometaxa)plansaheadb)tells
*hit. ti". c) is likely to be caught d) answers the questions honestly

LESSON 54

or offrcial
abrogatrdo away with or make ineffective, usually by authoritative
of national security'
iction. The regime abrogated civil liberties in the name
person- The chairwoman
dehgate-give a task or entrust responsibility to another-
irt"git"a b her assistant the iob of collecting teacher evaluations.
Forecasters pre-
dephte-use up or lessen critically; used of essential resources' sl<yrocket'
dicted that oil reserves ,ouli soon be depleted qnd Orig.es.w.ould
any respon-
aUfJmjeny, formally renounce claim to. The adviser disclaimed
for the decision.
sibility
effre-make inconspicuous or eliminate by wearing away- The fine details of the
Figuratively, a person
carving had bein effaced by exposure to the weather.
who makes himself inconspicuous is often called"self-effacing."
enumerate-count, list items one after another. The
plaintffi' complaints were
enumerated in the brief.
moffi-humiliate, embarrass severely. Roy was mortified to find that the whole
class was laughing at his predicament'
regu'
pro-p,-r"te
-- tt e dJce of as more important, take precedence over. The
'- lirly schedulei program was preempted by coverage of the crisis.
of
rebutjontradict, shoJ the falseness of an arggment or accusation' The leader generali-
our debating team cited the conclusions of researchers to rebut the
zations of the other side.
of a poor har-
retrogress-move backward, return to an earlier condition. Because
had retrogressed and hunger was again com'
iest, conditions in the villages
mon.
sublimatrredirect
----ro"iaf, energy from a primitive or unacceptable expression to a more
mother is
acceptable eipression. The little boy's romantic loue for his
eventially siblimated into interests beyond the family circle.
176 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

BIEBCISE I ctroose the best word to complete each sentence. Write it in the
blank.
1. I cannot precisely all the times he called me, but I know
he did so several times that week.
rebut efface
enumerate retrogress
2. His inner conflict has been constructively into a passion
for social justice.
rebutted abrogated
depleted sublimated
3. The Supreme Court can a law by declaring it
unconstitutional.
abrogate mortify
efface deplete
4. over the long vacation, the child's reading skills did not improve; in fact,
they to a second-grade level.
mortified disclaimed
retrogressed enumerated
5. Since he was reluctant to work, he wasted a lot of time
on clerical tasks that cOuld have been handled by a secretary.
delegate enumerate
- preempt sublimated
A long period of stress and overwork can your energy and
leave you susceptible to infection.
sublimate deplete
retrogress delegate
7. Although the boy was very polite about it, Tiffany was
when he turned her down for the date.
abrogated retrogressed
mortified delegated
8. I couldn't tell how old the coin was, for the date had been completely

rebutted efraced
preempted disclaimed
nhung loi cao buoc
9. If you ignore the charges instead of them, people may
believe you're guilty and trying to stonewall.
enumerating rebutting
abrogating delegating
10. She her share of the inheritance, renouncing it for the
sake of the deceased's children.
mortified preempted
disclaimed depleted
Ho The ande his boss by leaking the news before the boss
made his formal announcement.
preempted sublimated
disclaimed effaced
 Lesson 54 I 177

EIEICISE II Synonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.
l. mortiff obliterate
2. rebut count in a list
3. preempt use evidence to contradict
4. disclaim divert energy to an acceptable outlet
5. deplete exhaust a resource
6. delegate embarrass utterly
7. enumerate backslide
8. efface disavow
9. abrogate officially make no longer in effect
10. retrogress assigl to a subordinate
11. sublimate take the place of

EIEICISE III Circte the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. once our firewood supply is depleted, we'll a) stay warm b) have to cut
more c) have to stack it d) sell off the surplus
2. The president abrogated the arms control agreement by a) consulting
congress about revoking it b) signing it c) campaigning for its
ratifiiation d) exceeding the number of warheads allowed under it
3. Since my favorite program was preempted, I a) didn't get to see it
b) taped it c) waiched it with friends d) chose not to watch it
4. In her dream she was mortified to find that she a) ruled the world b) was
flyrng c) was naked in a train station d) was desperately fleerng
monsters
5. In sublimation, unacceptable impulses are diverted into a) sexual
frustration b) political crimes c) jokes d) constnrctive work
6. If a situation has retrogressed, there has been a) a slipping back into an
earlier state b) noihange c) remarkable progress in a short time
d) degeneration into complete chaos
7. Though he disclaims all knowledge of the afrair, the commission believes
he a) did not act alone b) knew nothing c) is tahing too much
responsibility d) must have known about it
8. The stranger was so self-efracing that a) no one even learned his name
b) no one else could make himself heard c) everyone laughed at him
d) he terrified everyone
9. The general delegated the task to a) the army chief of staff b) his aide
c) the wastebasket d) himself
10. In enumerating items, one a) puts them in alphabetical order b) justifies
them c) lists them il) displays them
11. In rebutting an argument, one a) offers a countemrggment b) remains
proudly silent c) resorts to violence d) fuhts dirty
 LESSON 55

covetiesire what belongs to someone else, especially in a blameworthy way. The

tenth commandment prohibits coveting thy neighbor's property.
delude-deceive, mislead by creating a false opinion or judgment . The con artist
deluded the victim into thinking that he would get rich quick.
dispatch-send away or off, especially on official business. The president dis-
patched a personal envoy to conduct secret negotiations. Dispatch can also
mean "kill with promptness and efficiency," a kind of permanent sending
away: The hero dispatched three of his opponents without working up a sweat:
elucidat+-make clear by analyzing or explaining. The poet's notes eliciclated some
of the obscure passages. Elucidate, like lucid, is derived from the Latin word
lux, "tgfit."
enjoin-command or prohibit urgently or by powerfrrl authority. Because of his
history of violent behavior, the man was enjoined by the coirt
from seeiig his
estranged wife. T\e noun form is injunction.
forbear-hold back, restrain oneself from some action. He could not
forbear giv-
ing his opinion, although he knew it would not be welcome. The past tens]e is
forbore. Do not confuse this verb with the noitr.r, forebear, meaning .,ances-
tor."
ostracizeexclude, bar from a group by general consent. children of that age are
often highly conformist and will ostracize a classmate whose appearance or
manners are dffirent.
rtcant-publicly or formally withdraw an opinion, repudiate a formerly stated be-
lief. To save himself from persecution, Galileo officially recanted his discov-
ery that the earth moves.
r€surrect-bring back to life, raise from the dead, either figuratively or hterally. The
group resurrected some old ballads that had been popular during the
fifties.
revile-abuse verbally, out of anger or hatred. She reviled him so thoroughiy that
I never again mentioned his name in her hearing.
supplant-take the place of, especially by force or because of superior qualities.
The generals had gradually supplanted the aged and enfeebled dictiror and
were running the country in all but name.

EIEBCISE I circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. Being publicly reviled is likely to make a person a) cooperative
b) ecstatic c) humiliated and defensive d) bored and sleepy
2. A hunter is most likely to dispatch a deer with a) a message b) a rope
c) binoculars d) a rifle

178
 ksson 55 I 179

3. To elucidate a situation, one must first a) recount it b) disown it

c) understand it d) enunciate it
4. One recants an opinion that one a) does not recall b) finds inspirational
c) no longer holds d) has always discredited
5. In many myths, divine heroes such as the Egyptian Osiris are resurrected
after a) losrng their memories b) dying c) defeating their rivals
d) long travels
6. Supplanted by-U)a new arrival, a person is likely to feel a) superfluous and
resentful t and optimistic c) overconfident d) appreciative
"t.rtt
7. If one forbears doing something, one a) accomplishes it quickly b) does
a sloppyjob c) procrastinates d) doesn't do it

8. An individual who is ostracized becomes a) popular b) a usurper c) an

outsider d) a power behind the throne
9. A deluded person is the victim of a) a false belief b) false arest
c) discrimination d) insecuritY
10. An injunction is a) a social gaffe b) an ofEcial order c) a verbal
command d) a Promise
11. Coveting another p€rson's property is usually considered a) trespassing
b) wrong c) illegal d) sensible

EIEICISE II Antonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
l. ostracize: a) conform b) be alert c) welcome eagerly d) formally
reprimand
2. forbear: a) soften b) rush to action c) be descended from d) recall
3. covet: a) recoil from b) be open about c) strip d) share
4. supplant: a) search and destroy b) preserve and bolster c) divide and
conquer d) riP uP bY the roots
5. elucidate: a) endanger b) turnoffthelighs c) refine d) muddle
6. delude: a) free from misconception b) lead astray c) impose by force
d) make lieht
7. resurrect: a) look to the past b) blaspheme c) consign to the grave
d) insist upon
8. enjoin from: a) resign b) suffer through c) plead for d) reconsider
9. revile: a) dislike b) quickly c) butter up d) tone down
scan

10. recant: a) refuse to sing b) recite from memory c) be able d) stick

to

ll. dispatch: a) propagate an idea b) ignore c) receive a message

d) attack
180 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

BIEBGISB III rrom the following list of verbs, pick a term to match each
action described below. lVrite the verbs in the blanks.
elucidated fOrbOre
reviled dispatched
enjoined coveted
resurrected recanted
Osmcized deluded
supplanted
1. In a complete turnabout, he repudiated his liberal record and pledged himself
to support the ultraconservative movement. enjoined
2. Instead of accepting herself, she jealously craved everything her older sister
enjoyed-her looks, her talents, her boyfriends. coveted

3. while he was away, the man who sublet his apartment also took over his
glrniend. supplanted

4. Furiously ilgry, he verbally cut his former friend to ribbons.

reviled

5. In reissuing the neglected early novels, the publisher breathed new life into
the author's reputation. resurrected

6. I resisted the impulse to help her, knowing that the only way she would
learn would be by doing it herself. forbore
7. For me, the review shed light on how such a badly crafted film could be so
popular. elucidated

8. Her pride blinded her: she thought she was much more talented an artist
than she really was. deluded

9。 A particularly bad‐ tempered elephant wi1l o■ en be shunned by the herd.

ostracized

10。 The colonel sent an urgent message by courier. dispatched

11. The planning board prohibited developers from converting any more

LESSON 56

Eleven more adjectives:

affable-easy to get along with, friendly and pleasant. A kindface and an affable,
corfident manner are more reassuring to patients thanframed diptomis.
avld-very enthusiastic, greedily eager. An avid collector of Americana, he would
go to ridiculous lengths to acquire a rare political campaign button.
 Lesson 56 / 181

heinous-shockingty evil. Ills cimes were so heinous that in prison he had to be

protectedfrom his fellow inmates.
loquacbu*talkative, tending to talk a lot, easily, and glibly. Well informed, opin-
ionated, and loquacious, she was ideally suited to be a college lecturer.
pnerits-childish and therefore silly, lacking depth or interest. Critics railed against
the puerile fare offered nightly by the networks.
pugnacious-belligerent, tending to get into fights. Donald is a pugnacious and
short-tempered duck.
some older people, she was
qnenrlonrfull of complaints, habitually freffirl. Unlike
never querulous; we were shocked when she was admitted to the hospital.
sardonic-mocking, bitterly derisive, usually said of people's words or facial
expressions. The older boy affected a sardonic mdnner in order to appear
worldly and superior.
sunrcptitious-stealthy, done secretly. A surreptitious peek into the playroom as-
sured her that the children were playing happtb.
tacitureinclined to be silent, tending not to tak. Her father was so taciturn that
even after a long absence he barely inquired how she was.
trenchant-to the point, penetrating, perceptive. The moderator's trenchAnt com-
ments kept the discussionfocused on the main issue.

BIEBCISE I Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
L A taciturn manner is ill-suited to a) a night watchman b) a cowboy c) a
word processor d) a television personality
2. A pugnacious attitude seems appropriate to a) a prizefighter
b) a driving instructor c) a bartender d) a nurse
3. A trenchant argument is a) fundamentally unsound b) prejudiced
c) long-winded d) difficult to refute
4. An avid reader is the sort who a) reads only what is assigned b) reads
everything, including cereal boxes at breakfast c) prefers television to
books d) knows several languages
5. Trapped in an elevator with a loquacious stranger, you can expect to a) be
left alone b) fear for your life c) be regaled with elevator stories
d) be appealed to for helP
6. A sardonic look is what one expects from a) a child opening birthday
presents b) the world-weary hero of a romantic novel c) a preacher
asking for a donation d) a woman embracing her long lost sister
7. To move surreptitiously, it helps to a) tiptoe b) carry your own luggage
c) wear combat boots d) flap your arms
8. A person who is always querulous never seems a) available
b) inconsiderate c) satisfied d) restless
9. An afrable co-worker is likely to a) greet you pleasantly each day
b) always be on time c) ask a lot of personal questions d) be
unpredictable
10. Many people believe heinous actions merit a) raises b) the death penalty
c) emulation d) gratitude
182 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

ll. An example of a puerile attitude is a) we can compromise. b) Take my

money, just don't hurt me. c) when the going gets tough, the tough get
golng. d) If you don't play my way, I'll take my ball and go home.

BIEBCTSE II antonyms. Circle the letter of the word or phrase most opposite
in meaning to the given word.
1. affable: a) expensive b) silent c) pugnacious d) dishonest
2. surreptitious: a) unconcealed b) unknown c) querulous d) boisterous
3. heinous: a) small-scale b) morally admirable c) physically attractive
d) despicable
4. puerile: a) adulterated b) mature c) sterile d) futuristic
5. taciturn: a) written b) spoken c) bumbling d) loquacious
6. querulous: a) stoical b) impersonal c) providing answers d) painful
7. avid: a) emotional b) disheartened c) uninterested d) thoughtless
8. sardonic: a) cynical b) chatrcring c) inexpressive d) sweet in manner
9. trenchant: a) soaring b) sinking c) meandering d) commonplace
10. pugnacious: a) peace-loving b) enormous c) obnoxious d) volatile

EIEBCISB III prom the following list of a-djectives, pick a term to march each
action or person described below. Write the adjectives in the blanks.
afrable avid
heinous loquacious
puerile pugnacious
querulous sardonic
surreptitious taciturn
trenchant
l. They sneahed up the drive and into the sleeping house, careful to make no
sound.
2. A fanatic follower of the team, he attended every home game.

3. Her infantile mannerisms and litfle-girl voice became less appealing as she
grew older.
4. He took offense easily and got involved in barroom brawls several times a
year.

5. The words spill out of her like a flood when the dam brealcs; no one else can
get a sentonce in.
6. The terse style of the essay is suited to its sharp insights.
7. His calm and easygorry manner made him universally liked.
 Lesson 57 / 1t3

8. She rarely spoke; she could spend hours working alongside others and never
volunteer a single comment.
9. The viciousness of the attack turned the stomachs of even hardened police
veterans.
10. He fretted continuously about his aches and pains, complaining that he was
being neglected.
Harsh disappointments had left her with a jaundiced view of love; she
mocked the very idea of romance.

LESSON 57

The words in this lesson and the next are nouns.

antithesis-opposite, complete contrast. Her new neighbor was urbane and
charming, the antithesis of the bumbling yokel she had expected.
demeanor-a persqn's oUtward appearange or manner. Scrooge's demeanor was
so crotchity andforbidding that almost everyone left him alone.
sôi sujc, ferment-condition of unrest, upheaval, often used of positive but disorganized
náo đôngj growth. Artists and intellectuals congregated in the capital; the city was in a
ferment of progressive enthusiasm.
glut<versupply. The glut of fresh produce at this season drives prices down.
impunity-friidom from punishment. Since the city cannot collect fines against
them, diplomats park illegally with impuniA.
interdiction-formal prohibition. Because of the danger from terrorist kidnappers,
travel to Lebanon was placed under interdiation by the state department.
kne[-ringing of a bell to mark a death or disaster; used figuratively, often in the
phrase ieath knell, to mean a signal-marking the passing of something. Tfte
closing of the factory was the death knell to the community'
penury-utter poverty. He grew up on welfarc on Chicago's South Side, but he rose
-
from penury to become a wealthy and successful publisher'
p".Uition-utteimoral destruction or misery, hell. Sfte damned him to perdition for
his callous disregard for human life.
supremacy prerugative-right or privilege conferred by a certain positiOn or status' As a stu'
-
irnt, it is your pierogative to have the case reviewed by a panel of adminis'
trators, faculty, and students.
reverieJaydream, state of dreamy thoughtfulness. The music sent her into such
a reverie that she didn't realize how much time had passed'
squalor-state of utter disarray, filth, and neglect caused by poverty. The appeal
for aid included photos showing the pathetic squalor in which the children
lived.
 It4 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EIEBCISB I Circle the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. The knell alerted villagers that a) a town meeting was in session b) the
church was on fire c) the king was dead d) visitors had arri\rcd

2. The science of biology was in such a ferment that it seemed a) new

breakthroughs were reported daily b) no one was interested in going into
the field c) a repressive atmosphere was to blame d) there wis
nothing r:ew to discover
3. His drivrng was reckless; he endangered lives with impunity because a) he
couldn't see well b) he was too ignorant to know any better c) no
local cop dared give him a ticket d) he drank too much
4. Wishing to escape penury, he dreamed of a) falling in love b) returning
home c) hitchhiking around the world d) winning the lottery
5. In a reverie, one's mind a) wanders pleasantly b) goes blank
c) experiences total recall d) is like a steel trap
6. To learn a man's demeanor, you must a) read his r6sum6 b) know him
intimately for many years c) spend five minutes in his company
d) know his family
7. One of the prerogatives of old age is a) Alzheimer's disease b) the sense
that time passes faster c) the fountain of youth d) the right to bore
your grandchildren with the same old stories
8. An interdiction on reporting antigovernment unrest is intended
to a) suppress the news of such unrest b) alert foreign journalists to
the extent of the problem c) foment revolution d) appease opposition
9. Squalor is what one expects to see in a) a historic monument b) a
wealthy suburb c) a shantytown d) a major department store
10. A kind and considerate man, he lived in perdition because he a) was rarely
ill b) was tormented by a guilty conscience c) was always misplacing
things d) couldn't afford a better neighborhood
ll. The old models are a glut on the market; you can hardly a) give them
away b) findthem anymore c) compete with them d) afford them
12. The antithesis of his father, the son was a) a real chip off the old block
b) so different he thought he was adopted c) eager to fill his father's
shoes d) the image of his old man at eighteen

BIEB0ISB II synonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.
1. hell l. perdition appearance
2. opposite 2. antithesis overabundance
3. overabundance3. glut solemn ringing of a bell
4. filth attendant 4. squalor hell
on poverty 5. impunity official ban
5. 6. demeanor exemption from punishment
6. appearance 7. knell pennilessness
8. reverie daydream
7.
8.daydream
9.pennilessness
10. disorderly
growth
 Lesson 57 / 185

9. penury oPPosite
10. ferment filth attendant on poverty
ll. prerogative disorderly growth
12. interdiction right due to status

EIEB0ISB III ril in the blanks from the list of words below'

impunity interdiction
squalor demeanor
perdition antithesis
prerogative ferment
glut Penury
death knell reverie
penury
l. Although they lived in , the children were well cared for;
their clothes were patched but always clean.
2。 With the glut of oil on the market, profits are low and there's
no incentive for new exPloration.
3. Though I knew he uras irked by social banalities, his
demeanor
unfailingly polite.
4. With junked cars in the yard, the roof caving in, half-stawed mongrels and
flies everywhere, the scene epitomized squalaor
ferment
5. It was a time of intellectual , when ideas seemed the most
powerful weapons and we were swept up by idealist crusades'
6. The sociopath believed that he would never be caught and that he could
therefore commit his crimes with
impunity
7. A bout with mononucleosis sounded the -.death knell to his hopes of
returning to college.
8. The boy was gaingout the window, oblivious to the teacher's question, lost
rna reverie about his future stardom.
antithesis
9. On the rebound, he looked for a woman who would be the
of his first wife.
10. The church placed under all artirlcial means of birth
control.
I l. Her wealth and status were no comfort to her, for she lived in a
of selfJoathing.
prerogative to vote in the
12. As a newly naturalized citionn, it is my
general election.
 LESSON 58

snomaly-something that doesn't conform to the norrn, something strange, irreg-

ular, haxd to classify. The platypus is an anomaty; although it's classed as a
marnmal, it has a bill like a duck and lays eggs.
anddot+-a remedy that count€racts the effects of something, such as a poison. rle
first-aid kit should include a dose of antidote to snake venom.
brethrtn-brothers, usually used formally of the members of a sect or association.
The preacher exhorted the assembled brethren to stick to their principles.
camrradcrtc-friendly group spirit, feeling of comradeship. rfte volunteers rel-
ished the camaradeie that grew as they learned to appreciate each other's
unique talents.
compuncdon-feeling of guilt or distress over one's actions. Believing that their
victims were creatures without souls, the soldiers were able to kill without
compunction.
exDoncNrt-someone who explains or advocates. As an exponent of a heatthy tift-
style, she placed great importance on diet.
fraseutter failure. The play was a fiasco; despite all the money spent on pro-
motion, it closed after the first night.
lenguor-weariness of mind and body. Although the fever had passed, the patient
suffered from such languor that for days he was barely able to crawl out of
bed.
pouper-very pq)r person, especially one completely dependent on charity. The
author died penniless and unknown and was buried by the city in a pauper,s
grave.
pcnchant-a liking or inclination. Hitchcock had a penchant for appeaing as a
passerby in his ownfilms.
perqufott+privilege or benefit in addition to regular salary. Traveling by contpany
iet is a perquisite of a vice-presidency. Perquisites are sometimes referred to
as perks.
prrdator-hunter, especially an animal that kills and devours prey. Etephants fear
no predators except man. Ttrc act of preying upon is called predation or dep-
redation.

EIBICISB I synonyms. circle the letter of the word or phrase that means
most nearly the same as the given word.
l. perquisite: a) Iiability b) inherent right c) coffee maker d) benefit
besides wages

2. antidote: a) counteractive agent b) virus c) opposition

d) predecessor
186
す轟
 I-esson 58 I lg7

3. exponent: a) loner b) advocate c) exhibitionist d) performer

4. brethren: a) fellow members b) forebears c) circle of acquaintances
d) employers
5. penchant: a) wisffirlness b) necklace c) preference d) retirement
income
6. fiasco: a) mural b) disastrous flop c) Italian wine d) crowning glory
7. predatory: a) instinctual b) manipulative c) preying on others
d) required bY law
8. anomalous: a) inconsistent with the usual pattern b) undeserved
c) law-abidirU d) undiscovered
9. compunction: a) timeliness b) remorse c) tardiness d) pickiness
10. languor: a) hypertension b) length of time c) feeling of inertia
d) excessive heat
ll. camaraderie: a) sense of good-fellowship b) solitude c) enjoyment
d) warlike attitude
12. pauper: a) sick person b) destiturc person c) prostitute d) farmer

BIEBIISE II from the following list of nouns, pick a term to match each
description given below. lVrite the nouns in the blanks'
penchant fiasco
pauper camaraderie
languor antidote
perquisite Predator
anomaly comPunction
brethren exPonent

l. Before air conditioning, nothing could be accomplished in the summer

months; the heat was so oppressive that most people slept through the
middle of the daY.

2. His campaign for governor ended in disarray when he was indicted on

racketeering charges.
3. They credited their survival to the intense loyalty each felt for his buddies in
the platoon.
4. The members of the club addressed each other as "brother."

5. Besides his salary, he was entitled to purchase company products at a large

discount.
6. She was a sheet penion who owned nothing but her shopping cart and the
clothes on her back.

7. Although she felt some guilt about their fate, she called the ASPCA to
remove the alleY cats.
lEt / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

E. She had such a fondness for gossip that she couldn't survive a day without a
phone.
9. The economist was one of the chief proponents of supply-side theory.

10. The wolf returned twice more to feed on stray livestock.

lt. our theory could not explain the rate at which the galaxy appeared to be
movlng.

12- one treatment for clinical depression is increased doses of sunlight.

BIEBCISE IIIcircte the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence.
l. The term brethren assumes that all the members of an association a) agree
on all issues b) are male c) are of the same religion d) are
competent in their field
2. A man with a penchant for reading is likery to a) be ill-informed b) have
a library card c) move his lips when he reads d) be illiterate
3. camaraderie is likely to develop among a) casual acquaintances
b) competitors c) aliens d) cooperating fellow workers
4. In a state of languor, a person wants to a) do nothing b) do aerobics
c) quarrel d) work constructively
5. The result was an anomaly. on all her other tests she did mediocre
work; a) she was absent for this one b) on this one she excelled
c) this one showed slight improvement d) this one was no difrerent
6. Responsible for a fiasco, a person is rikery to feel a) exultant b) touched
c) demoralized d) mildly encouraged
7. An antidote acts against a) its own best interests b) a poison
c) invasive procedures d) the liver
8. An exponent of yoga a) promotes its practice b) is uncertain of its
benefits c) practices it secretly d) believes it to be hype
9. A person sufrers compunction because of a) poor diet b) too little
companionship c) outlandish beliefs d) a troubled conscience
10. Predators move in
a) herds b) flocks c) packs d) baby strollers
11. The value of perquisites a) can be measured in karats b) is listed on the
stock exchange c) is incalculable d) can be considered additional
income
12. A pauper is without a) remorse b) the means to live decently
c) feetngs of rage d) intelligence
 LESSON 59

Here are ten words and phrases that have been borrowed more or less unchanged
from other languages:
Ifte
o"t" UU*n" (French, blank cardFfull authority to use one's own discretion'accu'
long as they
students have carte blanche in choosing their courses, as
mulate enough credits for a maior'
deus ex rnachina (t"tin, god from amachineFin a story,
a contrived ending that
resolves a conflict-in a sudden and unrealistic way. The revelation
that the
heroine is really the millionaire's daughter is the kind of convenient
deus ex
machinathatoneneverencountersinreallife.InancientGreekandRoman
drama, an actor impersonating a god would literally be lowered
by a crane to
resolve the outcome of a PlaY.
that can be inter-
double mtcndrc (French, double meaning)-a verbal expression
poetry, die
preted two ways, one of which is usually risqu€. In Renaissance
'i, to have a sexual
often a douile' entendre meaning both literally to die and
climax.
f.r-g, (r-tin, mixed fodder for cattle)-jumble, confirsed mixture' The thesis had
i fiw soltd insights, but they were buried in a farrago of illogical arguments
and groundle s s sPeculation'
sarnt
mmlo-rmri (Latin, remember that you must die)-a reminder of mortality.
-- Jerome is usually pictured with a human skull on his desk to serve as a me-
mento mori.
p".-dltb (Spanish, little sinFa minor sin or offense. Jennifer's one incident of
binges'
drunlrcnness noi i *"rr'peccadillo compared to her brother's frequent
harmony. At lirst his
rapport (French, harmonyifeeling of sympathy, of being in
oficemate seemed riU ona distant, but they developed a rapport as they dis-
c ov e re d mutual int ere sts'

seguc (Italian, there followsFtransition, originally

from one- musical passaSe to
another. The segue to tie second movement was maned by the cellist's drop-
ping her muric.-iegue can also be used as a verb: Her harangue gradually se-
gued into an appealfor spare change'
by the failure
welbchmerz (German, *otra p"inl-melancholy, depression ?rr."d
I into the kind of
of the world to iir" opio "n ideal. At twenty-two fell
who discover that the world isn't
weltschmerz typical of iensitive young people
eager to worshiP their talents'
climate
,.ng.d tC"rman, time spirit)-the spirit of the times, the general cultural plvase
of an era. Co^^"lntitori t*"d up the zeitgeist of the seventies in the
"the me generation.'

189

鵜
190 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

EIEICISB I synonyms. Draw a line connecting each word with the word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.
1. carte blanche disappointed idealism
2. weltschmerz hodgepodge
3. segue temper of the age
4. peccadillo smooth transition
5. zeitgeist sympathetic identification
6. deus ex machina death's head
7. memento mori moral slip
8. farrago free rein
9. double entendre tacked-on ending
10. rapport double meaning

EIBR0ISB II rrom memory, try to complete the following sentences with

words or phrases from this lesson. The fust letter of each answer is given
before the blank. Write your answers in the blanks.
l. The painting was a huge, wild tfl of tumbled shapes and
garish splashes of color.
2. With his health deteriorating daily, he needed no external
tml to remind him of death's approach.
3. His [w] was obvious from his melancholy sighs and
brooding silences.
4. The conclusion was a [d] a happy ending inappropriate
to the tragic tone of the story.
5. A rlifficult moment in classroom management is the
[s]
from one kind of activity to another.
6. The [z] of the Victorian nineteenth century was, at least
on the surface, confident, progressive, and optimistic.
7. The parents overreacted, making a federal case out of a typical childish
tpl
8. A con」 c seductress par exce」 ence,Mae west rnade every line sOund like a
tdl , and it usually was.
9. The child felt a [r] with the psychologist and was soon
confiding in her about his fears.
-.
10. When he took us to dinner, my grandfather gave us
[c] to
order whatever we wished.

BrBncISE III
circte the letter of the best choice to comprete each sentence.
l. A deus ex machina is used a) as a hoist b) to confuse an audience
c) at the end of the story d) as a starting point
2. A leeal peccadillo would probably be a) incarcerated b) a misdemeanor
c) a state law d) a felony
 Lesson 60 ノ 191

with carte blanche, one has a) a blank slate b) a futl plate c) authority

●コ
to malce decisions d) cash
Anagentwhoisinrapportwithhisclient.a)shouldquitb)islikelyto
losi the client cl is eUiltV of malpractice d) understands the client's
needs
5. Weltschmerz is → a SentlrHlental sadness b)a type of sausage c)an
unproVoked a鶴 震 k O a fOreign accent

6。 Sqr″ iS a tem bOrroWed from → laW b)the theater c)French

d)muSiC
7.A double entendre is ⇒ a faCial gnmace b)an ambiguous expression
C)a hin‐ Calo五 e dessert O an arChitectural feame

8.A famgo resembles → a Stew り WhiteWash C)atango O afedOra

9.The Zeitgeist of an era arects→ GermanS Only り ody peOple with
spidtual beliefs O everyOne in a culture d)Only the educated
10.A memento mo五 is a → SOuvenir b)8興 lesomejoke C)happy mood
d)grim reminder

LESSON 60

places, or stories-'
The words in this lesson are all borrowed from characters,
director is loowng for an
J*fu-* ixtremely beautiful young man. The casting
of Greek myth was abeautiful
adonis; acting o,Uittty is secindary' The Adonis
youth belovJd by both Aphrodite, the goddess of sexual love, and Perse-
phone, the queen of the underworld'
da Vinci
aegis-shield, prbtection or sF)nsorsttrp. Late in his career, Leonardo
traveled n no^i,-*iire'he nork"d under the aegis of Leo X. The original
king of the gods, and
Greek aegis was the breastplate or shield of Zeus, the
his warrior daughter, Athena.
but his
bregg!fuirvain, arrognnt boasting. The runner was extemely talented, 159 poem
-insults and braggaf,ocio rnade him unpopular with the crowd.In the
The Faerie Queene, Edmund Spenser invented the character Bragpdochio as

the personification of idle boasting'

cavalier-offhanded, given to dismissing things too lightly, disdainful of
others'
afford to be cavalier about
conserns. In this state no serious candidate can
subsidies. cavalier implies an artistocratic kind of disregard'
In the
farm
'English ("knight") was the
Civil War of the mid-seventeenth century, cavalier
name given to courtiers who supported the king'
chimertcal-wildly
--composed and improbably imagined, belonging to a Srotesque illusion
of-incongruius parts. Thi treatise, which claimed to be scientific'
was filled with itluirations of chimerical *eatures.
In Greek myth, the Chi-
lyz / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

mera was a female monster-part lion, part goat, and part serpent.
cornucnpia-abundance, inexhaustible supply of good things. rhe ihop
was a ka-
leidoscope of colors and a cornucopia of deliious treats. A
cornucopia (Latin
for "horn of plenty") is literally a curved horn spilling out grain
a symbor of plenty, it is sometimes associatea wim rrrantGving.-d-nuit.
a,
gargantuan-enonnous' of colossal size. Remains of a gargantuan
ape have re-
cently been uncovered in Vietnam. Gargantua is ttre na"me oi g6,oa-*t*"0
u
giant in French folklore. He was madelamous ,rs a
character oi.irrfinaou.
size and appetites in the sixteenth-century works of Rabelais.
mauE-unexpected or miraculous nourishment, a sudden and unlooked-for gain,
relief, or-pleasure. The unexpected inheritatnce was manna to the
struggling
student. In the Bible, manna is the mysterious food that appears
o"1v io .ur-
tain the Israelites in the wilderness.
pander-pimp, go-between, person who profits by catering to
the sexual needs or
weaknesses of others. The company acts as a panderl exploiting
ties of the public in order to sell its product. Pander can
iheiii"ruri
also Ue useo as a verb:
The madam pandered to the bizane tastes of her clientele.
hndams is tfr" g*
between of medieval romance who brings bressida and her
lover Troilus to-
gether.
saturnine-emotionally cold, somber or morose in disposition. A quiet,
methodi-
cal life without emotional entanglemert, opp"olrd to the man,s
saturnine
temper. The influence of the planet Saturn was once supposed
to make people
gloomy and slow to change.
sybarite--person given over to luxury and sensual pleasures.
The founder of the
Playboy-empire, Hefner became America's moit
famous sybarite. The inhab-
itants of the ancient city of Sybaris, founded by Greeks in
iouthern r,urv, o.
famous for their wealth and luxury.

EIBnCISE I synonyms. Draw a line connecting each word

with the word or
phrase that means most nearly the same.

l. gargantuan fantastic
2. pander sensualist
3. adonis fruitful abundance
4. saturnine huge
5. braggadocio sullen
6. cavalier procure sexual favors
7. chimerical overly casual
8. sybarite bragging
9. manna protection
10. aegis unexpected benefit
ll. cornucopia gorgeous man

BTEBOISB II choose the best word to comprete each sentence. write

it in the
blank.

' %:i#:?y;:Tffiil#;T mere,v the

saturnine chimerical
cavalier sybaritic
 Lesson 60 / 193

2. He was a(n) so beautiful that he upstaged all the women

he dated.
aegis manna
cornucoPia adonis

Her slow, one-stePat-a-time, disposition drove her

hyperactive co-worker cruzy -
saturnine gargantuan
pandering cavalier
4.Although the basketball coach was a tall rrlan,he was dwarfed by the
height of his players.
chimerical saturnine
adonis-like gargantuan

5. The community atracked the pornographer as a(n) who

exploited and tWisted the natural sexual cunosity of his young
customers.
chimera adonis
pander braggadocio

6. The concert series was performed under the of the state

council on the arts.
aegls Pander
comucopla sybarite

7. A devoted , he built a palace designed to enhance his

luxurious life-style.
cavalier sybarite
adonis pander

8。 A attitude toward safety rules eventually results in

avoidable accidents.
manna-like satumine
cavalier gargantuan

9。 Aunt Rae's kitchen always seemed to me a of cookies and

pies.
cornucopia manna
sybarite braggadocio

10. Under au the , the contestant was deathly afraid of

failure。
braggadocio comucopla
chimera aegls

it came like to a
11. Praise from his grandparents was rare;
starving man.
a gargantua braggadocio
an aegls manna

BIEB0ISB Circte the letter of the best choice to complete each sentence'
III
Rory was cavalier about money; he a) was always careful to count
his
l. penny
b) never knew where it went c) could account for every
"t,*g"
he spent d) dreamed of being rich
194 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

2. The aegis of the foundation was expressed in the form of a) an application

b) a revocation c) an installation d) a grant
3' Naturally saturnine,
Isabel had trouble a) controlling her temper b) being
spontaneous c) astrologically d) shutting up
4. A sybarite is likely to be fond of a) pursuing arcane studies b) running
marathons c) hot tubs and gourmet foods d) hospital volunteer work
5. A gargantuan statue needs to be displayed a) in a large space b) to adults
only c) from one angle only d) on a shelf
6. The sphinx was a chimerical creature a) of enormous size b) once
common in the Middle East c) part woman and part lion d) and
therefore easily tamed
7' A cornucopia symbolizes a) a rich harvest b) the unpredictability of
nature c) death d) marriage
8. An adonis may remind one of the clichd a) too smart for his own good
b) silent as the tomb c) strong as an ox d) tall, dark, and han-dsome
9. A pander is a) a kind of bear b) morally reprehensible c) a form of
begging d) very young
10. Manna c9m9s to people a) who don't deserve it b) as a brow c) who
plan wisely d) as a welcome surprise
11. Braggadocio is typical of a a) routed team b) sore loser c) tactless
winner d) disgruntled crowd

Gods, Planets, and personalties

We have in English several adjectives borrowed from names of
classical gods. In
Lesson 50 we saw that martial, "warlike," comes from Mars, the god
the planets were named for various deities, the planets themselveJw"..
or*i. sin""
tfrought to
share in divine attributes' A person supposedly influenced astrologically
by Slaturn
would be saturnine, and so forth. Using youi dictionary, determine
which heav-
enly bodies gave us the following adjectives. Make sure you know
what each ad-
jective means.
venereal
mercurial
jovial
lunatic
 REVIEW TEST 6

Questions I and 2.
These Great Pirates . . . were the antithesis of specialists. They had high
proficiency in dealing with celestial navigation, the storms, the sea, the
'men,
the ship, econimics, biology, gecgraphy, history, and science. The
wider and more long distanced their anticipatory stategy, the more
successful they became
. Buckminster Fuller
-R
-l. The Great Pirates knew how to navigate a) by approximation
b) instinctually c) by the stars d) because of their formal education

2. From this description, you can assume that the Great Pirates
were a) desultory manaSers b) avid students of practical afrairs
c) panders d) given to weltschmerz

Questions 3 and 4.
Her grandfather's ability to formulate and give a voice to her own in-
choate thoughts always comforted her'
_David Freeman

3. Her thoughts were a) fantastic b) misshapen c) still vaSue

d) macabre

4. Her grandfather was able to a) elucidate her thoughts b) abrogate her

feitings c) rebut her ideas d) recant his beliefs
5. she almost taunted Fleda with supineness in not getting something out
of somebody-in the same breath indeed in which she drenched her with
i *tna of appreciation more onerous to the girl than blame.
James
-Henry
The appreciation given the girl is a) to the point b) very burdensome
c) unexPected d) realistic

Questions 6 and ?.
Hesat,smihng,butinaninert,heavyway,hislimbsseeming,evenftom
where she sat across the room, cold and confused'
l*ssing
-Doris
6. The man appears . a) motionless b) like an adonis c) robust d) asleep

195
196 / Essential Vocabulary for College-Bound Students

7. His attitude might be called a) sublimated b) raucous c) sardonic

d) saturnine

Questions E and 9.
He would_ have told his story about the day the swarm of bees
flew
through the window, and if he was in a good mood hc nouid havi em-
bellished il by imitating the bees, running from one side of the room to
the other,llappins his arms, and buzzing until he was breathress.
Theroux
-Paul
8. The man described is definitely nor a) loquacious b) taciturn c) afrable
d) in rapport with his friends

9. To embellish a story is to a) make it ridiculous b) act it out c) add

things to it d) leave out facts

I0. who would have expected so gay a host to become the exponent of
pessimism?
Durant
-Will
That voltaire, the subject of this observation, became a pessimist
strikes the
author as a) chimerical b) a fiasco c) an ano-maly d) heinous

ll' Alas! with all her reasonings, she found that to retentive
feelings eight
years may be little more than nothing.
Austen
-Iane
The heroine's feelings a) are auspicious b) are a farrago c) have become
purulent d) have not been efraced by time

12' Peacock was also a loyal fiend who did not scruple to pillory his friends
inhis inimitable novels.
H. Abrams
-M.
Peacock had a) a trenchant style b) no compunction about ridiculing his
friends c) the aegis of powerfirl friends d) a rudimentary mind
13. An American multimillionaire . . . has everything that money can buy
but Ettle peace of mind. In his hideous Hearstlilcc castle in Southein
california he broods on the approach of death and perdition.
-Anthony Burgess

The man described a) rives inpenury b) is pugnacious c) expects

damnation d) expects resurrection

Questions 14 and 15.

Birds of prey hovered here and there in the shadows, orlbdfrom their
nests on the top of the rocks. There were sparrow-hai* ittn white
breasts, and kestrels, and down the sropes scampered, with rheir
long
legs, severalfinefat bustards. I reave iryon" to imagine the covetous-
ness of the canadian at the sight of this savory go^i.
_Iules verne
 Review Test 6 ttn
14. The birds mentioned are a) pernicious b) puerile c) plebeian
d) predatory

15. We can assume that the Canadian was a) hungry b) aft'aid of birds c) a
bustard d) a conservationist

Questions 16 and 17.

He was angry with himself for being young and the prey of restless,
which was re-
foolish impiises, angry also with the change of fortune
'sluping
tie world about him into a vision of squalor and insincerity. Yet
his'anler lent nothing to the vision. He chronicled with patience what
he sai, detaching himself from it and testing its mortifying flavour in
secret'
JoYce
-lames
16. We can assume that the hero a) records what he sees b) is reviled by the
world c) is insincere d) sees the world as a sornucopia
been a) a memento mori
17. The hero's change of fortune has apparently
b)likemarrnac)aknelltohishopesd)adeusexmachina
lg. To have that sense of one's intrinsic worth which constitutes self-re-
spect is potentially to have everything: the ability to disciminate, to love
and to remain indifferent'
Didion
-Ioan
One's worth, according to Ddion, is a) conferred by society
b) discriminatory c) inseparable from the self d) potential rather than
actual