Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 10 - Day 3

Word List
  • histrionics [his´ trē on´ iks]
    display of emotions
    → “Bobby Valentine’s histrionics will be irrelevant, because Rule 51 states that any manager who is ejected must remain in the clubhouse until the game is over.” Jack Curry, “Valentine is Suspended and Fined,” New York Times, 6/11/99
  • elusive [i lü´ siv]
    hard to grasp
    → “In his appearance there was something attractive and elusive which allured women and disposed them in his favour.” Anton Chekhov, “The Lady with the Dog”
  • frustrate [frus´ trāt]
    counteract, foil, thwart*
    → “I will not be frustrated by reality.” Ray Bradbury, Forever and the Earth
  • symptomatic [simp´ tə mat´ ik]
    having to do with signs or symptoms, indicative
    → “The widespread dislocation and downsizing in hospitals is symptomatic of relentless cost pressures.” Carol Eisenberg, “Nurses Contend With System’s Ills,” Newsday, 6/22/99
  • interject [in´ tər]
    insert, interrupt
    → “The accountant interjected, saying that you can buy a better house in New Jersey than on Long Island for the same money.” Ken Moritsugu, “Nowhere to Build,” Newsday, 6/25/99

The doctor explained the situation calmly, avoiding histrionics. First of all, they didn’t know whether the dog had rabies. Secondly, the elusive dog had frustrated all attempts to find him so far. Finally, the decision would have to be made whether Bobby was to undergo the painful vaccination administered daily for two weeks. Mrs. Hart said that a neighbor who had seen the dog claimed that it had been foaming at the mouth, barking, and growling constantly—all symptomatic of rabies. But the policeman interjected that there hadn’t been a case of a mad dog in the county in over twenty years; he repudiated* the neighbor’s report, advocating* that they do nothing for at least another day. Mr. and Mrs. Hart sat down to think about their next step.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. The warden __________ the prisoners’ attempt to escape by adding more guards.
  2. Most viewers hate it when a commercial is __________ into a suspense drama.
  3. Saying that he would not tolerate* her __________ , the director fired the temperamental actress.
  4. All his life he found happiness __________ , but wealth easy to come by
  5. The sordid* rioting was __________ of the problems facing the large cities.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. having to do with signs or symptoms, indicative
  2. b. hard to grasp
  3. c. insert, interrupt
  4. d. display of emotions
  5. e. counteract, foil, thwart*
  1. histrionics __________
  2. elusive __________
  3. frustrate __________
  4. symptomatic __________
  5. interject __________

Answer Key
to show one’s hand—to reveal one’s intentions
When someone joined in bidding for the antique, the dealer was forced to show his hand.

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