Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 31 - Day 4

Word List
  • dissent [di sent´]
    differ, disagree, protest
    → “In the totalitarian state that utopianism produced, dissent could not be tolerated.” Anthony Lewis, “Abroad at Home,” New York Times, 12/31/99
  • ferment [fər´ ment]
    uproar, agitation, turmoil
    → “She herself yearned for calm, but lived in a neighborhood of ferment and daily chaos.” Alan Lelchuk, American Mischief
  • attenuated [ə ten´ yü ā tid]
    weakened, thinned, decreased
    → “The players’ strike resulted in an attenuated and boring season.” Sports Illustrated, 10/96
  • arbiter [är´ bə tər]
    judge
    → “Sonja Henie became the supreme arbiter of skating fashions.” Maribel Y. Vinson, “Ice Maiden”
  • incumbent [in kum´ bənt]
    morally required
    → “As a Muslim, the Director of Interfaith Affairs for the Islamic Center said that it is incumbent on him to actively engage others in the service of Allah.” Jioni Palmer, “Vigil to Address Growing Violence,” Newsday, 10/10/99

The place of propaganda in a milieu* that is not free differs from its place in an open society. In a dictatorship there is no competing propaganda. Those who dissent from the official line may do so only in a clandestine* manner. Where there is no open ferment of ideas, the possibility of discerning* the true from the spurious* is attenuated. In a democracy, the inevitable* arbiter of what propaganda is to be permitted is the people. It is incumbent upon each citizen to choose between competing propagandas while remaining cognizant* of the value for a democracy in the existence of all points of view.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. It is __________ on us to be zealous* in combatting the deleterious* effects of drugs.
  2. With each generation it becomes the vogue* for the youth to be in a state of __________ .
  3. The gist* of his ominous* suggestion was that we __________ from the majority opinion.
  4. The strength of her appeal was __________ by the flamboyant* embellishments* for which many had a strong aversion.*
  5. The Supreme Court is our ultimate* __________ of legality.

Definitions Always be cognizant* of the fact that words are used in the paragraphs and sentences with only one meaning. They often have many others. Look up the word incumbent for a good example.

  1. a. morally required
  2. b. weakened, thinned, decreased
  3. c. differ, disagree, protest
  4. d. uproar, agitation, turmoil
  5. e. judge
  1. dissent (v.) __________
  2. ferment __________
  3. attenuated __________
  4. arbiter __________
  5. incumbent (adj.) __________

Answer Key
to get the sack—to be discharged or fired
Despite the fact that he was so obsequious* toward the boss, he got the sack because he was lethargic* about doing his job.

Favorite Books
Table of Contents