Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 42 - Day 3

Word List
  • qualm [kwäm]
    twinge of conscience
    → “The manager had qualms about allowing him to continue playing with an injured hand.” Sports Illustrated, 6/16/98
  • expurgate [ek´ spər gāt]
    remove objectionable parts or passages
    → “Lenny resisted any attempt by the law to expurgate his language dealing with personal and private behavior.” “Lenny Bruce, Voice of Shock,” Atlantic Monthly, 5/86
  • begrudge [bi gruj´]
    to be resentful or reluctant
    → “Taxpayers never seem to begrudge the use of their money when spent on local projects important to them.” Newsday, 8/22/99
  • artless [art´ lis]
    innocent, naive*
    → “Behind the naive, artless manner, there was a woman scheming for success.” John Simon, Reverse Angle
  • gratuity [grə tü´ ə tē]
    tip
    → “What form of gratuity would compensate his informer’s key bit of information?” Dashiell Hammett, Red Harvest

The wide diversity* of reasons people have for buying one product rather than another are investigated by the advertising people in order to prepare efficacious* commercials. They do not have the slightest qualm about questioning the consumer about personal things in her own domicile.* The consumer is requested not to expurgate* her answers. Generally, people are not reticent* and do not begrudge giving the time and effort. The questions delve rather deeply, and what the artless responses divulge* will help the advertiser decide what to put into his next commercial. After a large number of interviews, the copious* results make it feasible* to prognosticate* how well the commercial will do. The interviewer usually offers no gratuity to the person who has helped, but often a sample of the product is proffered* as thanks.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in these sentences.

  1. A successful television program can be built around the __________ comments of very young children.
  2. At times, the producer must __________ some of the things said by these children because they are too candid.*
  3. He had a serious __________ about hunting for the nearly extinct* quarry.*
  4. He took umbrage* when I offered a __________ to augment* his small salary.
  5. She did not __________ paying the pittance* extra for a better coat.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

  1. a. remove objectionable parts or passages
  2. b. to be resentful or reluctant
  3. c. innocent, naive*
  4. d. tip
  5. e. twinge of conscience
  1. qualm __________
  2. expurgate __________
  3. begrudge __________
  4. artless __________
  5. gratuity __________

Answer Key
to make the best of a bad bargain— to change or go along with a poor situation
After he bought the white elephant,* he made the best of a bad bargain and let sleeping dogs lie.*

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