Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 36 - Day 3

Word List
  • acme [ak´ mē]
    peak, pinnacle,* zenith*
    → “He was the acme of a political figure.” John Gunther, Inside U.S.A.
  • copious [ko´ pē əs]
    ample, abundant, plentiful
    → “The wedding reception featured copious amounts of food, drink, and music.” New York Times, 9/26/99
  • vehemently [vē´ ə ment lē]
    violently, eagerly, passionately
    → “The President spoke vehemently against any large tax cut.” New York Times, 9/16/99
  • depict [di pikt´]
    describe clearly, picture, portray
    → “How can one depict the beauty and impact of Grand Canyon in words or pictures?” Freeman Tilden, The National Parks
  • naive [nä ēv´]
    unworldly, unsophisticated
    → “Woodrow Wilson was naïve to believe Yugoslavia could be formed after World War I.” Letter to the Editor, New Yorker, 6/26/99

The movement toward realism in the English novel of the nineteenth century reached its acme with the works of Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray. Charles Dickens was a prolific* writer. Among his copious works are Oliver Twist, a candid* exposure of the repugnant* poor laws; Nicholas Nickleby, in which the life of boys in a boarding school is vehemently attacked; Hard Times, in which the author wanted to depict the infamous* life in a factory during an early period of the industrial revolution; The Pickwick Papers, about a naive gentleman who has numerous misadventures. The novels, aimed at exposing the sordid* and pernicious* elements of English life, were said to have helped galvanize* people into action leading to improvement in these conditions.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. At the __________ of his power, the dictator was obsessed* with the belief that those who dissented* were trying to usurp* his position.
  2. As a perspicacious* newspaper reporter, he felt it incumbent* upon him to __________ the abortive* coup* as a reprehensible* act.
  3. The urbane* gentleman was flabbergasted* by the fervid* interest in wrestling shown by the __________ young girl.
  4. She lost her decorum* and wept __________ tears at the poignant* story.
  5. He objected __________ to a vote taking place in the absence of a quorum.*

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. unworldly, unsophisticated
  2. b. violently, eagerly, passionately
  3. c. peak, pinnacle,* zenith*
  4. d. ample, abundant, plentiful
  5. e. describe clearly, picture, portray
  1. acme __________
  2. copious __________
  3. vehemently __________
  4. depict __________
  5. naive __________

Answer Key
terra firma—solid, firm land
The rough ocean crossing took the wind out of his sails*, and he was happy to be on terra firma again.

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