Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Bonus Week A - Day 1

Word List
  • impregnable [im preg´ nə bəl]
    incapable of being entered
    → “The Maginot Line, a French system of fortifications, was considered impregnable at the start of World War II. The Columbia Encyclopedia
  • toxic [tok´ sik]
    harmful
    → “A hope, if it is not big enough, can prove toxic; for hope is more essentially an irritant than a soporific.” William Bolitho
  • patriarch [pā trē ark´]
    excusable
    → “If a patriarch wants to put his foot down, the only safe place to do it in these days is in a note-book.” Florida Scott-Maxwell
  • neophyte [ne´ ə fīt]
    beginner
    → “The elaborate masked ritual of the courtroom holds attraction only for the neophyte and layman.” David Riesman
  • extenuating [ik sten´ yōō āt ing]
    elder
    → “In Clive’s case there were many extenuating circumstances.” Dame Rose Macaulay

On April 14, 1912, an incident took place that became a front page story in newspapers all over the world. It is a tale that has continued to capture the attention of movie and theatre goers, of opera and television audiences, of novelists and playwrights—it’s the story of the allegedly impregnable Titanic, the unsinkable majestic ocean liner that tumbled to the bottom of the icy Atlantic waters with 1600 passengers still aboard.

How could such a toxic tragedy have occurred? Could it have been avoided? How could the naval patriarch, Captain Edward Smith, no neophyte he, have allowed the disaster to happen? What were the extenuating circumstances that led to the death of that glorious White Star queen?

In September 1985, the hulk of the Titanic was found on the ocean’s floor, providing many answers to the questions that seamen and landlubbers had wrestled with over the years.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. Coal miners are often subject to __________ fumes.
  2. Robert’s defense lawyer pointed out the __________ conditions of the case.
  3. Although Sarah was skillful at math, she was a __________ at computers.
  4. A company of marines was unable to penetrate the seemingly __________ fortress.
  5. Grandfather is the recognized __________ of our family.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. harmful
  2. b. elder
  3. c. incapable of being entered
  4. d. beginner
  5. e. excusable
  1. impregnable __________
  2. toxic __________
  3. extenuating __________
  4. neophyte __________
  5. patriarch __________

Answer Key
a dry run—trial, test, exercise
Before opening night, the actors had several dry runs.

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