Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 34 - Day 1

Word List
  • site [sīt]
    location
    → “The site of the bison herd’s destruction was a tall cliff over which they were driven.” Brian Fagan, Time Detectives
  • vigil [vij´ əl]
    wakeful watching
    → “The U.N. peacekeeping troops are keeping a vigil over the disputed area.” New York Times, 9/21/99
  • cumbersome [kum´ bər səm]
    unwieldy, burdensome
    → “Grizzly bears may look cumbersome and awkward, but don’t be deceived.” Nature, 2/97
  • interrogate [in ter´ ə gāt]
    question
    → “The District Attorney of Nassau County is set to interrogate a Malverne police officer who was arrested on shoplifting charges.” Associated Press report, New York Times, 8/20/99
  • divulge [də vulj´]
    disclose, reveal
    → “The DNA tests divulged enough evidence to free him from death row.” Newsweek, 2/17/98

Robert was far from tranquil* as he waited in the lobby for almost an hour after the performance had begun. Disgruntled,* he quit the site of his vigil. He had to face the fact that he was making no tangible* progress. Tomorrow he would telephone several women’s residences. It was a cumbersome way of going about the hunt, but it was all that he could think of at the moment. He would interrogate the desk clerks, and perhaps he might uncover a pertinent* clue to Evelyn’s whereabouts. If he could only get someone to divulge her hiding place! Perhaps tomorrow would culminate* in success.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. ith rancor he faced the __________ job of transporting the voluminous* records to his new office.
  2. Before they began to __________ the criminal, they had to admonish* him that his testimony might be used to incarcerate* him.
  3. The hunter maintained a discreet* and wary* __________ as he waited for the propitious* moment to bag his quarry*.
  4. Even under duress,* he was adamant* and would not __________ the secret.
  5. The newly married couple selected the __________ for their new home with meticulous* care.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. unwieldy, burdensome
  2. b. question
  3. c. wakeful watching
  4. d. disclose, reveal
  5. e. location
  1. site __________
  2. vigil __________
  3. cumbersome __________
  4. interrogate __________
  5. divulge __________

Answer Key
to take a leaf out of someone’s book—to imitate or follow the example
The chip off the old block* took a leaf from his father’s book and never sowed wild oats*.

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