Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know » Week 43 - Day 5

There are various kinds of handicaps. One that we can do something about, and you are now doing it, is the language handicap. Our fullest potential can be realized only when there is no barrier between what we want to say or write and our ability to express ourselves.

Review Words

DEFINITIONS

  1. a. based on experience, practical
  2. b. mien,* appearance, manner
  3. c. a list of names
  4. d. skeptic, pessimist
  5. e. test, model, standard
  6. f. desire to make amends, regret
  7. g. obsequious,* servile
  8. h. held back or checked in natural growth
  9. i. social outcast
  10. j. evidence, trace
  11. k. waste away
  12. l. charitable, kindly
  13. m. appease, pacify
  14. n. wickedness, injustice
  15. o. cripple, disable
  16. p. reserved, apart, distant
  17. q. greedy, motivated* by desire for gain
  18. r. liberality, gift, gratuity*
  19. s. affectedly emotional
  20. t. relieve, improve
  21. u. to reveal harmful secrets
  22. v. a great surprise
  23. w. to talk frankly
  24. x. to study or work until very late

REVIEW WORDS

  1. aloof __________
  2. ameliorate __________
  3. atrophy __________
  4. benevolent __________
  5. criterion __________
  6. cynic __________
  7. guise __________
  8. iniquity __________
  9. largess __________
  10. maim __________
  11. mercenary __________
  12. mollify __________
  13. pariah __________
  14. pragmatic __________
  15. repent __________
  16. roster __________
  17. stunted __________
  18. subservient __________
  19. unctuous __________
  20. vestige __________

Idioms

IDIOMS

  1. to burn the midnight oil __________
  2. to lay one’s cards on the table __________
  3. a bolt from the blue __________
  4. to tell tales out of school __________

WORDSEARCH 43

Using the clues listed below, record separately using one of the new words you learned this week for each blank in the following story.

Clues
  1. 2nd Day
  2. 4th Day
  3. 4th Day
  4. 2nd Day
  5. 1st Day

Whistle Blowing

There appears to be a question of how much loyalty employees owe to their employers— whether private or governmental. Many companies go out of their way to encourage employees to make suggestions that will improve the way they operate. A (1)__________ employer will not criticize or reprimand an employee who points out problems having to do with the way other employees are harming the business. In fact, it should be in the bosses’ interest that the person who has become known as a “whistle blower” is encouraged to alert them to a problem.

However, many such whistle blowers face harsh punishment for calling attention to illegal or unethical actions. The whistle blower soon becomes a (2)__________ in the workplace. Under the (3)__________ of some minor error, or other excuse, the informer might be demoted, transferred, or fired. This (4)__________ often goes unreported. As a result, the employees go back to “business as usual” without any change. They become used to whatever they may see around them and to the belief that they should not make waves. Thus, no attempt to (5)__________ the situation actually takes place.

Answer Key
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