< previous page		page_110		next page >

Page 110

Wordsearch 17

Using the clues listed below, fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in an __________ review of Social Security disability

payments, focused on Jack Benson, a __________ Seattle panhandler. Mr. Benson had claimed that whatever money he collects on the street can be compared to the funds raised by legitimate charities, and, therefore, he is

entitled to a federal deduction. Government officials regard his analogy as __________ and disagree. It is their contention that, since Benson's income is unearned, it should be subtracted from his disability payments.

Mr. Benson may not be highly regarded as a street beggar but that didn't stop him from going into the Federal District Court in Oregon to plead that his appeals for cash are an art form, thereby making him eligible for most of the $472 a month that he had been receiving. Not so, declared the government, quoting from a 1990 ruling that found that "money received through begging is better classified as 'gifts' rather than as 'wages' or 'net earnings from self-employment.'"

Mr. Benson's lawyer, plunging into the legal __________, has not given up. She countered that, if Jack merely sat on a street corner with his hand out, the government had a good case. However, in her words, "Jack Benson is a

__________ professional who has elevated begging to a respectable level because of his skill in actively seeking contributions."

It may take all of Benson's talent as a salesman to get the government to put some money in his collection basket. Clues

2nd Day

2nd Day

1st Day

3rd Day

1st Day

Answers are on Page 310

< previous page		page_110		next page >

< previous page		page_111		next page >

Page 111

18th Week

1st Day

New Words

abortive

modify

accommodate

spontaneous

innate

Teaching Chimpanzees to Talk

Two resourceful* psychologists at the University of Nevada have made splendid progress in vocabulary development in chimpanzees. Following a number of abortive attempts to teach French, German, or English to chimps, the researchers persevered* until they hit upon the American Sign Language system that is often used by deaf persons. They have had to modify the language somewhat in order to accommodate the animals' spontaneous gestures. With a mixture of innate movements and learned ones, some laboratory chimps now have an extensive vocabulary.

Sample Sentences

Use the new words in the following sentences.

1.His __________ cunning allowed him to see through the spy's subterfuge.*

2.The divers made an __________ attempt to rescue the dog from the murky* waters.

3.Because Phil refused to __________ his philosophy, the directors were forced to invalidate* his appointment.

4.My English teacher admonished* me: "I realize that the speech was to be __________, but it was not supposed to be incoherent* or fraught* with fallacious* statements."

5.A quarrel was precipitated* when the dietician refused to __________ the patient's special needs.

Definitions

If vocabulary is getting to be your stock in trade,* you should have no trouble in matching the new words with their meanings.

6. abortive	____ a. fruitless,* useless, failing
7. modify	____ b. to make fit, adjust to
8. accommodate	____ c. natural
9. spontaneous	____ d. without preparation, unrehearsed
10. innate	____ e. to change

Today's Idiom

under the wirejust in time

Hank hesitated about his term paper for two months and finally submitted it just under the wire.

Answers are on Page 311

< previous page		page_111		next page >

< previous page		page_112		next page >

Page 112

2nd Day

New Words

veneer

myriad

urbane

crave

irrelevant

Chimpanzees Are Surprisingly Smart

Washoe, the chimpanzee, has more than a veneer of intelligence; she can signal her desire to eat, go in or out, be covered, or brush her teeth. In addition, she can make signs for "I'm sorry," "I hurt," "Hurry," ''Give me," and a myriad of other terms that are familiar to young children. This urbane animal can indicate that she craves more dessert by putting her fingers together ("more") and then placing her index and second fingers on top of her tongue ("sweet"). It is irrelevant that Washoe cannot actually talk. What is important, however, is the consummate* ease with which she has mastered her daily assignments.

Sample Sentences

Use the new words in the following sentences.

1.Why did Silas Marner __________ wealth and practice cupidity*?

2.Once the hoax had been concocted*, a __________ of problems arose.

3.The defendant was alleged* to have been an army deserter, but the judge said that was __________ to the case.

4.By embellishing* her work with __________ humor, the sophisticated playwright succeeded on Broadway.

5.The lieutenant confessed to a __________ of ignorance in order to properly evaluate* his corporal's resourcefulness.* Definitions

Take the bull by the horns* and match the new words with their meanings.

6. veneer	____ a. to desire
7. myriad	____ b. countless number
8. urbane	____ c. polished, witty
9. crave	____ d. thin covering
10. irrelevant	____ e. not related to the subject

Today's Idiom

to be at largenot confined or in jail

Since the dangerous criminal was at large, all the townspeople began to buy dogs for protection.

Answers are on Page 311

< previous page		page_112		next page >