Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 29 - Day 2

Word List
  • exhort [eg zôrt´]
    urge strongly, advise
    → “There was no reason for me to exhort the guys to play hard because they were already giving me 110%.” Mets Baseball Manager Bobby Valentine on Radio Talk Show WFAN, 10/21/99
  • apathy [ap´ ə thē]
    lack of interest, unconcern
    → “The younger generation exhibits apathy toward the issue of freedom of the press.” Herbert Brucker, Journalist
  • fracas [frā´ kəs]
    noisy fight, brawl
    → “Once the will was read, there followed a fracas that involved numerous law suits and lasted years.” Fortune, 2/16/91
  • inebriated [in ē´ brē ā tid]
    drunk, intoxicated
    → “Red Skelton’s inebriated clown who was guzzling Smuggler’s Gin is one of the all-time great comedy sketches.” Paul De Simone, “They Made Us Laugh” [adapted]
  • adversary [ad´ vər ser´ ē]
    opponent, enemy, foe
    → “Both fighters had nothing but kind words to say about their adversaries.” Hal Butler, “The Battle in the Rain”

The spectators at a football game play more than a superficial* role. A spirited cheer from the stands often gives the player on the field a reason to try even harder. Cheer leaders exhort the fans, who may be in a state of apathy because their team is losing, to spur on the team. In particularly close games between rivals of long standing, feelings begin to run high, and from time to time a fracas may break out in the stands. While the teams compete below, the fan who is a bit inebriated may seek out a personal adversary. On the whole the enthusiasm of the spectators is usually constricted* to cheering and shouting for their favorite teams.

Sample Sentences Complete the sentences with the new words.

  1. The feeling of __________ was so prevalent* during the election campaign that the candidates hardly bothered to make speeches.
  2. Doctors __________ obese* individuals to go on diets.
  3. He was usually sedate,* but when __________ he became hostile.*
  4. The __________ started when he besmirched* my good name.
  5. My __________ became disgruntled* because my arguments were so cogent.*

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. opponent, enemy, foe
  2. b. drunk, intoxicated
  3. c. lack of interest, unconcern
  4. d. urge strongly, advise
  5. e. noisy fight, brawl
  1. exhort __________
  2. apathy __________
  3. fracas __________
  4. inebriated __________
  5. adversary __________

Answer Key
a fly in the ointment—some small thing that spoils or lessens the enjoyment
He was offered a lucrative* position with the firm, but the fly in the ointment was that he would have to work on Saturday and Sunday.

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