Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 12 - Day 2

Word List
  • prestigious [pre stij´ əs]
    illustrious
    → “He had finally reached his present prestigious position of wealth and security, and he felt he was entitled to sit back and enjoy his happiness.” Ronald Byron, “Happy Days for Harrison Gumedi”
  • placard [plak´ ärd]
    poster
    → “Yet a mile away at the ultra-orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood, wall placards now warn residents not to have Internet-linked computers in their homes.” Thomas Friedman, “All in the Family,” New York Times, 6/22/99
  • integral [in´ tə grəl]
    essential
    → “Let Office 2000 be an integral part of your productivity tools.” Newspaper ad for Microsoft Office 2000
  • remuneration [ri myü´ nə rā´ shən]
    reward, pay
    → “Please mail your resume along with your expected remuneration to our Director of Personnel.” Want ad, New York Times, 7/7/99
  • nominal [nom´ ə nəl]
    slight
    → “As the nominal head of his party, the governor was courted by all the Sunday morning talk shows.” Archer Karnes, “Politics and Poker”

The need for a decision came about when Monte was invited to join a prestigious summer stock company, starting in mid-June. As a mature “apprentice,” he would be required to take tickets, paint scenery, prepare placards, assist with lighting, costumes, and props, and carry an occasional spear in a walk-on role. Since the company would stage five major plays during the summer, as well as a half-dozen shows for children, there was a chance that Monte might actually get a part before too many weeks had elapsed.* In addition, he would be attending the drama classes that were an integral part of the summer theater. The remuneration would be nominal but at last Monte Ziltch would be fulfilling a life-long ambition.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. The police posted a __________ asking all citizens to desist* from looting.
  2. A salient* feature of the __________ company’s success was its fair treatment of employees.
  3. Derek Jeter’s __________ from the New York Yankees made him a millionaire many times over.
  4. For allowing his ferocious mastiff* to appear on a commercial, the trainer was paid a __________ sum.
  5. She seemed to be an unimportant member of the president’s entourage* but actually she played an __________ role in White House affairs.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. essential
  2. b. poster
  3. c. slight
  4. d. reward, pay
  5. e. illustrious
  1. prestigious __________
  2. placard __________
  3. integral __________
  4. remuneration __________
  5. nominal __________

Answer Key
to wash dirty linen in public—to openly discuss private affairs
“Let’s talk about it privately,” his uncle said,
“rather than wash our dirty linen in public.”

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