1100 Words You Need to Know. Week 2

WEEK 2 DAY 1

TO THE POINT

Calvin Coolidge, our thirtieth president, was named “Silent Cal” by reporters because of hislaconic speech. One Sunday, after Mr. Coolidge had listened to an interminable* sermon, athrong of newsmen gathered around him. An intrepid reporter accosted the Chief Executive:
“Mr. President, we know that the sermon was on the topic of sin. What did the minister say?”
“He was against it,” the reticent Coolidge replied.


(*interminable—click here.)Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences:1.His speech was usually rambling, but this time I found it brief and ________________ .2.If a surly panhandler should ________________ you, keep on walking.3.Even under repeated questioning, the witness remained ________________ .4.A howling ________________ of teenage girls surrounded the rap artists.5.The corporal received the Silver Star for his ________________ deeds in combat.Definitions Match the new words with their dictionary meanings.6.laconic a. expressing much in few words7.throng b. brave
8.intrepid c. to approach and speak to9.accost d. crowd10.reticent e. silentTODAY’S IDIOMthe sword of Damocles—any imminent danger (a king seated one of his subjects
underneath a sword that was hanging by a hair, in order to teach him the dangers a
king faces)Although the president of the company seemed quite secure, he always complained that
there was a sword of Damocles hanging over his head.
NEW WORDSfurtivefėr´ tiv                                                        

felonfel´ ənplethora                                  pleth´ ə rəhaplesshap´ lisirateī´ rāt or ī rāt´

WEEK 2 DAY 2

IF I HAD THE WINGS OF AN ANGELCasting a furtive glance over his shoulder, the felon slipped out the main prison gate to be
swallowed up in the British fog. A plethora of escapes from supposedly secure prisons
embarrassed the hapless wardens. To compound* their problems, the officials were
badgered* by irate citizens who accused the guards of accepting bribes from convicts whose
motto was: “Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage.”
(*compound—click here; *badgered—click here)Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.1.The ________________ contest winner was unable to locate the lucky ticket.2.My uncle was ________________ when the drunken driver swerved in front of us.3.In a ________________ manner she removed her shoes and tiptoed up to her room.4.When the teacher asked why the homework had not been done, he was greeted by a
________________ of incredible alibis.5.Since the boss learned that Bob associated with a known ________________ , he fired
him.Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.
6.furtive a. angry, incensed7.felon b. a person guilty of a major crime8.plethora c. unfortunate

9.hapless	d. excess
10.irate	e. secret, stealthy	TODAY	’	S	I

DIOMPyrrhic victory—a too costly victory (King Pyrrhus defeated the Romans but his
losses were extremely heavy)In heavy fighting the troops managed to recapture the hill, but it could only be
considered a Pyrrhic victory.
NEW WORDSpretextprē´ tekstfabricatefab´ rə kātadroitə droit´gesticulateje stik´ yə lātvigilantvij´ ə lənt

WEEK 2 DAY 3

DR. JEKYLL OR MR. HYDE?Under the pretext of being a surgeon he gained entry to the hospital. When interviewed by the
director, he had to fabricate a tale of his medical experience, but he was so adroit at lying that
he got away with it. It was not until the phony “doctor” began to gesticulate wildly with his
scalpel, that a vigilant nurse was able to detect the fraud. In the annals* of medical history
there have been a number of such cases.Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.1.The shootings at Columbine High School made educators much more
________________ ,2.My nephew is quite ________________ at making model airplanes.3.Most fishermen can ________________ a story about the size of the one that got away.4.Her ________________ of being tired did not fool us for an instant.

5.I often marvel as I watch the traffic officer ________________ at the onrushing cars.Definitions Pick the letter of the definition that matches your new word.
6.pretext	a. to lie; to construct
7.fabricate	b. skillful

8.adroit	c. an excuse
9.gesticulate	d. watchful
10.vigilant	e. move the arms energetically
TODAY	’	S	I

DIOMa wet blanket—one who spoils the funEveryone wanted the party to go on, but Ronnie, the wet blanket, decided to go home to
bed.
NEW WORDSavidav´ idcajolekə jōl´rudimentaryrü´ də men´ tə rēenhancein hans´nuancenü äns´

WEEK 2 DAY 4

YOU’VE GOT TO BE A FOOTBALL EXPERTAs an avid football fan, I try to see every game the Jets play. Whenever I can cajole my father
into accompanying me, I try to do so. He has only a rudimentary knowledge of the game, and
since I am steeped* in it, I enjoy explaining its intricate details to him. It certainly doesenhance your appreciation of football when you are aware of every nuance of the sport.Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences. You may have to change the
ending of a word.1.Since my grasp of algebra is ________________ , I cannot solve the problem.2.The parakeet refused to be ________________ into entering her cage.3.It will ________________ your enjoyment of an opera if you know what the plot is
about in advance.4.In reading the satires of Jonathan Swift, one must be vigilant* in order to catch each
________________ .5.Bill Clinton is an ________________ student of the social media and is listed on
Facebook.Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.6.avid a. eager

7.cajole	b. slight variation in meaning, tone, etc.
8.rudimentary	c. coax
9.enhance	d. intensify, heighten
10.nuance	e. elementary	TODAY	’	S	I

DIOMto beard the lion in his den—to visit and oppose a person on his own groundsHaving decided to beard the lion, I stormed into the manager ’s office to ask for a raise.

WEEK 2 DAY 5

REVIEWKeep adding to your vocabulary, as it is one of the most useful tools a student can possess.
Let’s go over the twenty new words and four idioms you studied during this week.
In the following quiz, match the best possible definition with the word you have studied.
*Reminder: Record answers on a sheet of paper.REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS1.accost a. uncommunicative2.adroit b. enthusiastic3.avid c. alert4.cajole d. overabundance5.enhance e. courageous6.fabricate f. to greet first7.felon g. an excuse8.furtive h. unlucky9.gesticulate i. angry

10.hapless	j.	criminal
11.intrepid	k.	basic, elementary
12.irate	l.	clever
13.laconic	m.	to make up a lie
14.nuance	n.	great number of people
15.plethora	o.	concise, pithy
16.pretext	p.	to use lively gestures
17.reticent	q.	shade of difference
18.rudimentary	r.	sly
19.throng	s.	coax, wheedle
20.vigilant	t.	to make greater
IDIOMS21.the sword of Damocles	u.	an expensive conquest
22.Pyrrhic victory	v.	spoilsport
23.a wet blanket	w.	defy an opponent in his home

24.to beard the lion x. any threatening danger
Make a record of those words you missed. You can learn them successfully by studying them
and using them in your own original sentences. If you neglect them, then the effort you have
expended in building up your vocabulary may be wasted.

*For reference only WORDS FOR FURTHER STUDY	MEANINGS
1. _________________________	_________________________
2. _________________________	_________________________
3. _________________________	_________________________

WORDSEARCH 2Using the clues listed below, record separately using one of the new words you learned this
week for each blank in the following story.Clues2nd Day
3rd Day
4th Day
3rd Day
3rd Day

The Best Laid PlansGloria Rogers overslept and then had to sprint to catch the same Greyhound Bus that she
boarded on the last Thursday of every month. After a three-hour uneventful ride, she finally
arrived at the bus terminal where a courtesy van was ready to transport bus passengers to
Visitors Day at the State Penitentiary.
Although Gloria tried to act casual, she was more than a little nervous. Her boyfriend, Art, a
convicted , had managed to gain admittance to the prison’s hospital on the
of having a gall bladder attack. Under her own slacks and bulky sweater, Gloria was wearing
a set of clothes that she removed in the hospital bathroom and passed on to Art. He planned to
use them after making his escape in the back of the prison ambulance that was parked outside
his ward.
Art had spelled out his escape plan during Gloria’s last visit, spending an hour trying to
her into being his accomplice. All that she had to do was appear to have a seizure.
Then she would a story about her epilepsy while Art, with the smuggled clothes
concealed under his prison bathrobe, would slip out of the ward during the excitement.
Unfortunately for the schemers, a hospital guard spotted Art climbing into the rear
of the ambulance and quickly foiled the escape attempt. The result was that Art had three years
added to his sentence and Gloria was imprisoned for her role in the misadventure.
NEW WORDSloathelōthreprimandrep´ rə mandlacklusterlak´ lus´ tərcaustickô´ stikwrestrest

Week 3