Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 23 - Day 2

Word List
  • phenomenon [fə nom´ ə non]
    unusual occurrence
    → “This phenomenon is characterized by a temporary reversal of the normal atmospheric conditions, in which the air near the earth is warmer than the air higher up.” Berton Roueché, “The Fog”
  • mortality [môr tal´ ə tē]
    death
    → “Socrates loves talk of fundamental things, of justice and virtue and wisdom and love and mortality.” Hermann Hagedorn, Socrates—His Life
  • decade [dek´ ād]
    ten years
    → “Clearly, the first decade of the 21st century will be the ‘e-decade,’ as all forms of ecommerce and e-ways of life continue to grow.” Letter to the editor, New York Times, 1/1/00
  • susceptible [sə sep´ tə bəl]
    easily affected, unusually liable
    → “Wrestling matches are susceptible to being heavily scripted, as ardent fans know.” Edward Wyatt, “Pinning Down a Share Value,” New York Times, 8/4/99
  • neurotic nůrot´ ik
    suffering from a nervous disorder
    → “We shall lose all our power to cope with our problem if we allow ourselves to become a stagnant, neurotic, frightened and suspicious people.” Walter Lippmann, “The Nuclear Age”

As Mr. Sloane pursued his investigation of the phenomenon, he discovered that a Dr. Trevor Weston of the British Medical Association had corroborated* his findings. Dr. Weston had studied British mortality rates over a decade, finding that people whose names began with letters ranging from “S” to “Z” had a life expectancy that averaged twelve years fewer than the rest of the population. Furthermore, those at the bottom of the alphabet tended to contract more ulcers, were more susceptible to heart attacks, and were more likely to be neurotic than those at the top of the alphabet.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

  1. Irritability is one of the salient* features of a __________ personality.
  2. After a __________ of connubial* acrimony,* the couple decided to consult with a marriage counselor.
  3. If a miner were to ponder* over the high __________ rate in his occupation, he might want to quit.
  4. Ethan Frome soon learned that his querulous wife was __________ to a variety of ailments.
  5. There was no paucity* of witnesses to describe the __________ of the flying saucer.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

  1. a. death
  2. b. suffering from a nervous disorder
  3. c. ten years
  4. d. unusual occurrence
  5. e. easily affected, unusually liable
  1. perpetrate __________
  2. consummate __________
  3. subterfuge __________
  4. concoct __________
  5. fallacious __________

Answer Key
on the qui vive—on the alert
My mother is always on the qui vive for bargains.

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