Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 16 - Day 3

Word List
  • altruistic [al´ trü is´ tik]
    unselfish
    → “The conflict is between selfishness and altruism.” Former Senator Estes Kefauver, campaign speech
  • embellish [em bel´ ish]
    adorn, touch up
    → “The prioress may not have told the correct story in all its details and she may even have embellished the story a little bit to make it more attractive.” Lin Yutang, “The Jade Goddess”
  • cache [kash]
    secret hiding place
    → “Fagin drew from his cache the box which he had unintentionally disclosed to Oliver.” Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist
  • coterie [kō´ tərē]
    small group having something in common
    → “The aristocratic coterie finally got the upper hand.” Edith Hamilton, The Greek Way
  • cupidity [kyü pid´ ə tē]
    greed
    → “There is little real humor in this picture of cunning and cupidity as revealed by a petty contest for a paltry sum.” Liam O’Flaherty, “A Shilling”

Let us examine the activities of the altruistic workers in greater detail. After the workers have constructed a hive of waterproof honeycomb (made from beeswax), the queen begins to lay eggs in the first cells. While some workers embellish the hive, others fly out in search of nectar and pollen. With their long tongues they gather nectar and use their hind legs to carry the pollen from the flowers. They fly directly back to the hive and then dance around the honeycomb, their movements indicating the direction of the flowers. Meanwhile, other workers have been cleaning cells, caring for the young, and guarding the precious cache of nectar. Another special coterie is entrusted with heating or cooling the hive. Dedicated to the welfare of the queen and the entire insect community, all of these workers display a complete absence of cupidity.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. Through a fortuitous* remark, the __________ of the art thieves was discovered.
  2. We warned him that his reprehensible* __________ would eventuate* in a loss of all his friends.
  3. The good-hearted doctor went into the jungle purely for __________ reasons.
  4. A __________ of bridge players made our clubroom their permanent habitat.*
  5. Everytime the irate* motorist told about the accident he had a tendency to __________ the story.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. secret hiding place
  2. b. unselfish
  3. c. small group having something in common
  4. d. adorn, touch up
  5. e. greed
  1. altruistic __________
  2. embellish __________
  3. cache __________
  4. coterie __________
  5. cupidity __________

Answer Key
to make bricks without straw—to attempt to do something without having the necessary materials (In the Bible we read that the Egyptians commanded the Israelites to do so)
My uncle’s business schemes always fail because he tries to make bricks without straw.

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