Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 40 - Day 1

Word List
  • rhetoric [ret´ ər ik]
    use (sometimes exaggerated) of language
    → “Nothing good can come out of the rhetoric of hatred that will be heard at the rally.” New York Congressman Charles Rangel, ABC TV News, 9/2/99
  • clique [klēk]
    small, exclusive group of people
    → “The tragic event points out the danger of forming cliques in school that shut out many.” Newsday, 5/15/99
  • extol [ek stōl´]
    praise highly
    → “They extol the largely nonexistent virtues of bygone eras.” Artemus Abruzzi, Commonsense
  • mentor [men´ tər]
    counselor, coach, tutor
    → “To break into the political life of South Africa, one needed a highly placed mentor.” Nadine Gordimer, Face to Face
  • facile [fas´ əl]
    easily accomplished or attained
    → “We are usually more facile with words we read than with words we use to write or speak.” Charlton Laird, The Miracle of Language

The 2012 elections offered another example of politics as show business. Most politicians have prepared speeches dealing with the prevalent* topics of the day. They can maintain a fervid* flow of rhetoric for hours at a time. In each locality where he is to appear, the advance work is prepared by a clique of trustworthy aides. In preparation for the show, they have dispersed* leaflets, put up posters, and sent out cars and trucks with loudspeakers to extol the erudite* qualities of their candidate. Soon, the crowd gathers. Loyal party workers come forward to shake the hand of their mentor. Now, with the facile solutions to complex problems carefully memorized, the show is ready to begin. One moment facetious,* the next moment profound,* the candidate works to convince the incredulous* among the voters.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. It is not long before a young star has a __________ around him who sporadically* get their names into the newspapers.
  2. At a time that requires tangible* proposals, all he offers is unconscionable* __________ .
  3. The detective interrogated* the adamant* prisoner in such a __________ way that he confessed after giving incontrovertible* evidence.
  4. Youngsters scoff* when their elders __________ the halcyon* days of long ago.
  5. Amidst the adulation of the throng,* the film star, in all humility,* credited her __________ as the one most responsible.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions

  1. a. counselor, coach, tutor
  2. b. use (sometimes exaggerated) of language
  3. c. easily accomplished or attained
  4. d. praise highly
  5. e. small, exclusive group of people
  1. rhetoric __________
  2. clique __________
  3. extol __________
  4. mentor __________
  5. facile __________

Answer Key
to live in a fool’s paradise—to be happy without a real basis
He lived in a fool’s paradise while he sowed wild oats*, but he soon had to pay the piper.*

Favorite Books
Table of Contents