1800 TOEFL Essential Vocabulary

1800
TOEFL
ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY

By Cho Sangik

DARAKWON PRESS
First published in August 2009

By Darakwon, Inc.
Darakwon Bldg., 211, Munbal-ro, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do 413-830
Republic of Korea

Copyright 2009 Darakwon, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronics or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright
owner.

Author: Cho Sangik
Publisher: Chung Kyudo
Editor: Lee Dongho
Designer: Yoon Jiyoung

www.darakwon.co.kr
Table of Contents

Categorizing used in this book

Part 1
Chapter 01
Unit 01 Humanities
Unit 02 Social Sciences
Unit 03 Natural Sciences
Unit 04 Applied Sciences

Chapter 02
Unit 05 Humanities

Chapter 03
Unit 09 Humanities

Chapter 04
Unit 13 Humanities

Part 2
Chapter 05
Unit 17 Humanities

Chapter 06
Unit 21 Humanities

Chapter 07
Unit 25 Humanities

Chapter 08
Unit 29 Humanities

Part 3
Chapter 09
Unit 33 Humanities

Chapter 10
Unit 37 Humanities

Chapter 11
Unit 41 Humanities

Chapter 12
Unit 45 Humanities

Part 4
Chapter 13
Unit 49 Humanities

Chapter 14
Unit 53 Humanities

Chapter 15
Unit 57 Humanities

Categorizing used in this book

Category: HUMANITIES
Subcategory:
History, Anthropology, Archaeology, Literature and Authors, Linguistics, Music and Music
History, Photography, Philosophy, Religion, Visual and Performing Art, Theater, Dance,
Painting

Category: SOCIAL SCIENCES
Subcategory:
Sociology, Politics, Psychology, Economics, Pedagogy, Business, Mass Communication,
Child Development, Community Dynamics, Education, Law, Cultural Studies, Demography

Category: NATURAL SCIENCES
Subcategory:
Physics, Geology, Meteorology, Astronomy, Biology, Aquatic Organisms, Oceanography,
Glaciers, Deserts, Cosmology, Particle Physics, Chemistry, Seismology

Category: APPLIED SCIENCES
Subcategory:
Electronics, Medicine, Architecture, Ecology, Industrial Design, City Planning, Extinction of
Animals, Conservation Efforts for Plants, Medical Technique, Public Health, Physiology

Chapter 01 UNIT 01 Humanities

1. contemporary
adj. belonging to the same period or time as something else
concurrent, coexistent, modern

His work was a contemporary account of life in the nineteenth century.

2. afford
1) v. to provide; to give
2) v. to be able to do something or to allow something to happen
1) provide, supply 2) be able, be rich enough

Wool blankets were used in the colder regions of the country because of the warmth they
afforded.

3. annually
adv. once a year; every year
yearly

One of the most notable rodeos in the country is held annually in Wyoming.

4. ascribe
v. to believe something to be the result or work of
attribute, credit, assign

Tradition ascribes the epic poems to Homer, but little is known about him.

5. imprint
n. a mark or impression made by pressure
mark, track, trace

Experts believe the origin of rice was in Asia due to the imprints that they found at the site in
China.

6. apace with
ph. keeping pace with
abreast with

The downtown business district did not grow apace with the city as a whole.

7. cradle
n. a bed for a small baby, especially one that can be rocked; a place of origin
bassinet, cot, birthplace

The Nile River is the longest river in the world and the cradle of civilization.

8. undoubtedly
adv. without any doubt; surely
certainly, doubtlessly, unquestionably

Undoubtedly, game animals were major components of human diets.

9. cunning
adj. clever in deceiving
deceptive, shrewd, sly

Although they were cunning hunters, primitive humans were still threatened by certain
animals.

10. enigmatic
adj. mysterious and very hard to understand
obscure, ambiguous

The rise of Neanderthal man is somewhat enigmatic despite the relative abundance of fossils.

11. abundant
adj. existing in large amounts
plentiful, profuse, ample

Some women specialized in the gathering of the abundant shellfish that lived closer to shore.

12. account for
1) ph. to give a reason or explanation for something
2) ph. to constitute; to form
1) explain, clarify 2) make up

Various methods of spattering the glaze onto the ware account for the extremely wide
variations in color.

13. cast
v. to shape by pouring something into a mold and allowing it to set
form, mold, shape

Early civilizations used bronze, an alloy that could be cast in molds, to make tools and
weapons.

14. artifact
n. a handcrafted object, especially one that is of archaeological interest
remain, relic, antiquity

The archaeologists examined all of evidence from sites very closely and then determined the
general age of the artifacts.

15. accommodate
v. to provide someone with a place to stay
put up, house, lodge

The adjoining apartments could accommodate dozens of families.

16. adorn
v. to make more beautiful, attractive, or interesting
decorate, ornament, embellish

In the past, men, women, and children adorned themselves with beads.

17. abruptly
adv. in a sudden and unexpected manner; very quickly
unexpectedly, suddenly, instantly

They didnt care for the play because it ended so abruptly.

18. acclaim
v. to declare something with noisy enthusiasm
hail, applaud, cheer

The ballerina was acclaimed for her wonderful performance.

19. bear
1) v. to have; to bring or take
2) v. to support a weight or load; to accept something without complaining
1) carry 2) sustain, endure

Alternative history bears some relation to historical fiction as well as to science fiction.

20. by chance
ph. without cause or reason; by accident
accidentally, incidentally

The character gained his wealth by chance, not from hard work.

21. abandon
v. to give something up completely
desert, cede, leave behind

Some rituals were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, persisted and provided
material for art and drama.

22. abstraction cf. abstract
n. an idea of a quality considered separately from any particular object or case
conception, notion, representation

A number of sculptors have rejected the abstractions of minimalist artists.

23. agile
adj. able to move or change quickly and easily
nimble, quick, swift

Acrobats must be extremely agile.

24. surmount
v. to be above or on top of; to overcome
ascend, mount, defeat

She managed to surmount the obstacle.

25. aesthetically cf. aesthetic
adv. in an aesthetic manner; in a highly developed sense of beauty
artistically, beautifully, tastefully

Satires are read because they are aesthetically satisfying works of art.

26. akin (to)
adj. having the same appearance, character, or nature
similar, alike, related

Her fictitious world is strikingly akin to the real one people live in every day.

27. diverse
adj. different from each other; showing variety
different, various, assorted

The artwork is diverse in form and includes sculptures, paintings and photographs.

28. acquisition
n. the act of obtaining, developing, or acquiring something

gain, procurement, acquirement

Social-interactionists believe that adults play an important part in childrens language
acquisition.

29. outgoing
adj. eager to mix socially with others
friendly, sociable

Gregarious people are friendly and outgoing.

30. nuisance
n. something or someone that causes trouble
annoyance, irritation, inconvenience

After the war, the robber became a small-scale rustler it was more a nuisance than highway
robbery.

Chapter 01 UNIT 02 Social Sciences

1. levy
v. to demand and collect officially
impose, charge, tax

A new tax was levied on consumers of luxury goods.

2. barrier
n. something that is used to keep people or things apart
bar, fence, wall

During pioneer times, the Allegheny Mountains were major barriers to transportation.

3. beverage
n. a prepared drink, especially a hot drink like coffee or tea, or an alcoholic drink like beer
drink, liquid, refreshment

The availability of synthetic fragrances has made possible a large variety of products, from
beverages to used cars with applied new car odor.

4. brag
v. to talk boastfully or proudly about oneself and about what one has done
boast, swagger, talk big

The owners often bragged about the quality of the facilities at their resort.

5. breed
v. to reproduce sexually; to raise something, often an animal

generate, bring forth, rear

Nothing breeds success like success, so he kept signing deals after he got his first one.

6. speculator
n. someone who speculates, especially financially
investor, gambler

Excessive investment by speculators may lead to uncontrolled economic growth.

7. culminate
v. to reach the highest point or climax
climax, consummate

The crisis culminated in the Panic of 1873, when the leading investment banking firm declared
bankruptcy.

8. propel
v. to drive or push something forward
drive, thrust, impel

By the 1600s, colonial shipbuilders were strong competitors in the shipbuilding industry and
helped to propel heavy transatlantic commerce.

9. auction
n. a public sale in which each item is sold to the person who offers the most money
public sale, open sale

Auctions were another popular form of occasional trade.

10. urbanization cf. urban
n. the process by which cities grow or by which societies become more urban
citification

Technological developments further stimulated the process of urbanization.

11. calamity
n. a catastrophe, or serious misfortune that causes great loss or damage
disaster, catastrophe, misfortune

The Red Cross provides relief in case of calamities like floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes.

12. infamous
adj. well known for being bad or morally wicked
notorious, disreputable, ill-famed

Jesse James was an infamous outlaw who was well-known as a bank robber and gunfighter.

13. notify
v. to tell someone, especially formally
announce, inform, alert

Who should be notified in case you are involved in an accident?

14. misery
n. great unhappiness or suffering
affliction, distress, hardship

Jacob Riis, a newspaper reporter and photographer, revealed the misery of the slums of New
York City.

15. acute
adj. able to notice small differences; showing an ability to understand things clearly and
deeply
keen, sharp, penetrating

The acute public awareness of social changes was tied to the tremendous growth in popular
journalism in the late nineteenth century.

16. assert
v. to state firmly; to insist on or to defend ones rights, opinions, or something else
affirm, state, insist

Slave owners asserted that their crops were a great benefit to the economy and that the slaves
were needed to work the land.

17. adversity
n. circumstances that cause trouble or sorrow
hardship, misfortune, suffering

The natives were very tough people who were able to handle adversity.

18. retrieval
n. the act or process of retrieving
recovery, restoration

Memory formation involves three main processes; encoding, storage, and retrieval.

19. assembly
n. a group of people gathered together, especially for a meeting
gathering, congregation, congress

All the representatives came to the capital for legislative sessions of the assembly and council.

20. bill
n. a written plan or draft for a proposed law
act, measure

Even if a bill passes in Congress, it still does not become a law until the president signs it.

21. craft
1) n. a skill, or occupation, especially one requiring the use of the hands
2) v. to make something skillfully
1) expertise, adeptness 2) make, fabricate

Much of the political activity on television news has been crafted by politicians and their
public relations advisers.

22. adept
adj. skillful at doing something
proficient, versed, dexterous

He must be adept at dealing with politicians, public interest groups, and government agencies.

23. enact
v. to establish by law
pass, decree, legislate

Market regulations are often enacted by corrupt governments for the purpose of benefiting
well-connected companies or politicians.

24. eligible
adj. suitable or deserving to be chosen for a job or something else
suitable, qualified, fit

In the United States, citizens are eligible to vote at the age of eighteen.

25. conclusive
adj. leaving no room for doubt or uncertainty
decisive, convincing, definite

Each circumstance may mean little, but a whole chain of circumstances can be as conclusive
as direct evidence.

26. verbal
adj. relating to or consisting of words
oral, spoken, vocal

Dreams are commonly made up of both visual and verbal images.

27. able
adj. having the necessary knowledge, power, time, and opportunity to do something
capable, competent, talented

The head of an academic department at a university should be not only a distinguished scholar
but also an able administer.

28. adhere (to)
v. to stick or remain fixed to something
attach, cleave, stick

The child always adheres to the teachers rules.

29. ban
v. to forbid something
prohibit, bar, outlaw

Some people feel that violent sports like boxing should be banned because they are too
dangerous.

30. blunt
adj. having no point or sharp edge; imperceptive
dull, worn, abrupt

The victim was apparently struck by a club or some other blunt object.

Chapter 01 UNIT 03 Natural Sciences

1. cognizant
adj. aware of something or having knowledge of it
aware, conscious, knowledgeable

A scientist must always be cognizant of and guard against bias skewing the results of his or
her research.

2. cohesive
adj. having the power of cohering; tending to unite into a mass
condensable, consolidative

The cohesive strength permits columns of water to be pulled to great heights without being
broken.

3. confirm
v. to provide support for the truth or validity of something
verify, prove, affirm

If observations confirm the scientists predictions, then that will give support to their theory.

4. warp
v. to make something become twisted out of shape through shrinking and expanding
bend, twist, distort

If boards become wet, they may warp.

5. discharge
v. to flow out or to be released; to lose some or all of somethings electrical charge
let out, release, emit

Sharks can detect minute electrical signals discharged from their prey.

6. alert
v. to warn someone of danger; to make someone aware of a fact or circumstance
caution, alarm, warn

Fire ants make use of an alarm pheromone to alert workers to an emergency.

7. chamber
n. a room, especially a bedroom; a room set aside for a special purpose
bedroom, room, compartment

Numerous networks of tunnels linked all the different chambers together.

8. classify
v. to put animals, plants, or something else into a particular group or category
categorize, divide, sort

Monkeys are classified as primates.

9. claw
n. a hard, curved, and pointed nail on the end of each digit of the foot of an animal
nail, talon

Unlike other cats, the cheetah cannot fully extract its claws.

10. aromatic
adj. having a strong but sweet or pleasant smell; sweet-smelling
fragrant, perfumed, pungent

At least 50 different aromatic compounds have been analyzed in the orchid family.

11. demonstrate
1) v. to show or prove something by reasoning or providing evidence
2) v. to show support or opposition by protesting or marching in public
1) illustrate, explain 2) parade, protest

Many experiments demonstrated how some plants can survive with very little amounts of
water.

12. landmark
n. a mark showing the boundary of a piece of land; an occasion, event, or development of
importance
milestone, watershed, turning point

Some experts have suggested that migrating birds find their way by following landmarks like
rivers and mountain ranges.

13. bloom
v. to be in or come into flower; to be growing well
blossom, flourish, prosper

Most flowers bloom in the spring.

14. venomous
adj. having the ability to poison

poisonous, toxic

The rattlesnake is the most common venomous snake in the United States.

15. botanical
adj. of, pertaining to, made from, or containing plants
phytological

One of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the United States is the wild and lovely
Magnolia Gardens in South Carolina.

16. ambidextrous
adj. able to use both hands equally well; unusually skillful
talented, gifted, adept

Right-handers are said to make up 80% to 90% of all people and left-handers 5% to 15%
while the remaining tiny percentage is ambidextrous.

17. advent
n. a coming or arrival; a first appearance
arrival, appearance

With the advent of the Vietnam War, the Air Force wanted a system to help it navigate over the
jungles of Southeast Asia.

18. alien
adj. from another country or society; connected with creatures from another world
exotic, foreign, outlandish

The alien in the Earths core make it a far more alien world than space.

19. boulder
n. a large piece of rock that has been rounded and worn smooth by weathering and abrasion
rock

The mineral particles found in soil range in size from microscopic clay particles to large
boulder.

20. stable
adj. firmly balanced or fixed; not likely to wobble or fall over
steady, secure, firm

A roadbed supplies a stable base for a highway.

21. permeable cf. permeate
adj. allowing certain liquids or gases to pass through something
penetrable, pervious

In some cases, wells can draw water from a permeable rock layer.

22. eject
v. to throw out someone or something with force
banish, boot, expel

Geysers periodically eject streams of hot water into the air.

23. hem
v. to surround something closely and prevent its movement
enclose, encase, hedge

The Great Basin is hemmed in by the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west and by the Rocky
Mountains to the east, giving it no outlet to the sea.

24. core
n. the innermost, central, essential, or unchanging part
center, heart, nucleus

The asteroids compositions are believed to be similar to that of Earths iron core.

25. hamper
v. to hinder the progress or movement of someone or something
impede, obstruct, block

Bad weather hampered the rescue crews trying to locate the life rafts.

26. synthesize
v. to combine simple parts to form a complex whole; to make or produce
combine, mix, compose

It is important to note that animal cells cannot synthesize some complex molecules from
simple compounds.

27. delicate
adj. easily damaged or broken; made or formed in a very careful and detailed way
fragile, breakable, exquisite

Earth is not too close or too far away from the sun to upset the delicate temperature
requirements of life.

28. fuel
1) n. any material that releases energy when burned
2) v. to fill or feed with fuel
1) energy, power 2) feed, nourish

The sun is fueled by thermonuclear reactions near its center that convert hydrogen to helium.

29. shrink
v. to make or become smaller in size or extent
wither, shrivel, contract

About 5 billion years from now, the suns core will shrink and become hotter.

30. efficiency
n. the quality of doing something well with no waste of time or money
effectiveness, productivity

Even some supporters of alternative energy realize that the easiest way to cut carbon
emissions is to focus more on efficiency.

Chapter 01 UNIT 04 Applied Sciences

1. appeal
n. an urgent or formal request for help; the quality of being attractive or interesting
solicitation, attraction, charm

The appeal of iron comes from its low cost, strength, and resistance to fire.

2. bind
v. to tie or fasten tightly; to force someone to do something by making him or her promise to
do it
tie, constrain, obligate

Hotels were some of the earliest places that helped bind the United States together.

3. sway
v. to swing or to make something swing; to incline toward a particular opinion
wave, swing, tilt

In high winds, skyscrapers will sway slightly.

4. beneficial
adj. having good results or benefits
helpful, useful, advantageous

Some bacteria are beneficial since they stimulate plant life through food decomposition.

5. allude
v. to mention something indirectly; to speak about something in passing

hint, mention, refer

The word zigzag alludes to the geometric ornamentation.

6. alter
v. to become different or to make something or someone become different
change, convert, transform

As Earth developed, the concentrations of the pollutants were altered by various chemical
reactions.

7. appreciation
n. sensitive understanding of the value or quality of something
recognition, understanding, admiration

With concerns about the loss of species, there is a growing appreciation for the importance of
biological diversity.

8. barren
adj. not able to produce crops or fruit; not able to bear offspring
infertile, sterile, unproductive

We can see large, pristine forests on one side and an almost barren land devoid of trees on the
other side.

9. comparatively
adv. according to an estimate made in comparison; not absolutely
relatively, nearly, approximately

The first attempt to dig the canal was made by private companies, and only a comparatively
small portion was built.

10. clue
n. a fact or circumstance which helps toward the solution of a crime or a mystery
hint, evidence, indication

There were no clues as to how the animal died.

11. voluminous
adj. producing great quantities of writing; enough to fill many volumes
copious, bulky, huge

The ecologist had voluminous correspondence and frequent discussions with other experts in
the field.

12. thrive
v. to grow strong and healthy
prosper, flourish

Barley, unlike most other grains, thrives at high altitudes, so it can be grown in many places.

13. facilitate
v. to make something easy or easier to do or to achieve
expedite, ease, promote

Research into hydrogen technology was facilitated by money from Congress.

14. boundary
n. a line or border marking the farthest limit of an area

border, bounds, limit

Lake Superior forms a natural boundary between the United States and Canada.

15. advocate
n. someone who supports or recommends an idea or proposal
proponent, supporter, patron

Advocates of organic foods frequently proclaim that such products are safer and more
nutritious than others.

16. cope with
ph. to manage successfully; to deal with
handle, dispose of

The human body is usually unable to cope with extremely hot or cold temperatures.

17. crucial
adj. extremely important because the thing will affect others
decisive, critical, vital

Obviously, muscles are crucial to the human body.

18. inhibit
v. to hold back or prevent an action, desire, or progress; to prohibit someone from doing
something
check, restrain, bar

Antibiotics inhibit the growth of bacteria.

19. illusion
n. a deceptive or misleading appearance
fantasy, delusion, hallucination

Optical illusions deceive the eye with tricks of perception.

20. specimen
n. a small amount of something that shows what the rest of it is like; a sample or example of
something, especially something that will be studied
example, sample, case

Many medical tests require a blood specimen.

21. breakthrough
n. a sudden achievement; a decisive advance or discovery, especially in scientific research
advancement, improvement

The new vaccine represented a significant breakthrough in the battle against the virus.

22. codify
v. to arrange something into a systematic code or laws
systematize, formulate

By the 1500s in Europe, the collected knowledge of the human body was codified.

23. anatomy
n. the art of dissection; the scientific study of the structure of living organisms, including
humans
dissection

Thomas Eakins studied not only painting but also anatomy when he was training to become an
artist.

24. acrid
adj. having a very bitter and pungent smell or taste
pungent, tart, bitter

Burning rubber produces an acrid smoke.

25. corpse
n. the dead body of a human being or an animal
cadaver, carcass, remains

The decomposing corpse of a dead ant is generally removed from the colony by worker ants.

26. finite
adj. having an end or limit
limited, restricted, bounded

Many people fear that Earths supply of oil is finite and that we will run out of energy
someday.

27. ignite
v. to set fire to something
burn, inflame, kindle

When exposed to air, phosphorous ignites spontaneously and forms white fumes when it burns.

28. manipulate
v. to handle something or to work something with the hands, especially in a skillful way
control, operate, direct

The pilot must manipulate the controls to take off, to change directions and speed, and to land.

29. drainage
n. a process or system by which waste liquid flows away
draining, sewage

That province has a history of underground faults that has created an efficient water drainage
system.

30. ventilate
v. to allow fresh air to circulate throughout a room or a building
air

Most modern barns are insulated, ventilated, and equipped with electricity.


1. daring
adj. brave enough to do risky things; new or unusual in a way that may shock people
courageous, adventurous, bold

Richard Bird and his pilot Floyd Bennett undertook a daring flight to the North Pole in May
1926.

2. depress
1) v. to weaken something; to make something lower
2) v. to make someone sad and gloomy
1) weaken, lower 2) dishearten, sadden

Rent controls have artificially depressed the most important long-term determinant of
profitability: rents.

3. disaster
n. an event causing great damage, injury, or loss of life
calamity, catastrophe, cataclysm

When their crops failed, it was a disaster that caused many people to lose their lives.

4. domain
n. the scope of any subject or area of interest
field, realm, sphere

The empire was silently, but quickly, extending its domain.

5. decipher
v. to translate a text in an unfamiliar or strange form of writing into ordinary language
decode, unravel, interpret

They could decipher the tablets because the language was a Semitic one that scholars had first
translated a decade ago.

6. ascend
v. to climb something or to move to a higher position
arise, climb, mount

The pueblo architects laid out a system of public roads with stone staircases for ascending
cliff faces.

7. avid
adj. very enthusiastic about something
ardent, eager, passionate

President Theodore Roosevelt was an avid conservationist who believed in preserving nature.

8. restrict
v. to keep someone or something within certain limits
confine, limit, restrain

The study of fossilized footprints is not restricted to examples from millions of years ago.

9. roughly
adv. not exactly
approximately, around, about

The population roughly doubled every generation during the rest of the nineteenth centuries.

10. settled
adj. established in some routine
arranged, fixed, inhabited

With the settled routine of Neolithic farmers came the evolution of towns and, eventually,
cities.

11. attire
n. clothes, especially formal or elegant ones
clothes, apparel

He indicated several weeks ago that he would wear formal attire at his inauguration.

12. component
n. any of the parts or elements that make up a machine, engine, or instrument
constituent, element, factor

The time scale is divided into three time components; eons, eras, and periods.

13. considerable
adj. fairly large, especially large enough to have an effect or be important
notable, sizable, substantial

The book was a considerable improvement over the only other instruction manual existing at
the time.

14. thanks to
ph. because of
owing to, as a result of

Thanks to the unending pressures of the work, he decided to quit his business.

15. adversary cf. adverse
n. an opponent in a competition
enemy, foe, opponent

By adulthood, Genghis had been through a series of rough-and-tumble encounters with various
adversaries, who tried to enslave or kill him and his family.

16. afterlife
n. the life that some people believe people have after death
hereafter

It is said that death is a new beginning when the deceased passes from the restrictions of this
life into the afterlife.

17. compose
v. to create music, poetry, or something else; to make up or constitute something
set to music, constitute, form

Certain films had music specifically composed for them.

18. costume
n. a set of clothing of a special kind, especially of a particular historical period
apparel, attire, dress

Wearing masks and costumes, they often impersonated other people, animals, or supernatural
beings.

19. overall
adj. including everything
total, whole, entire

A books table of contents provides readers with an overall idea of what it is about.

20. assimilate
v. to become a part of a country or community; to completely understand and begin to use
new ideas, information, or something else
make similar, absorb

The immigrants quickly assimilated to life in their new country and learned both its language
and customs.

21. assumption
n. something that is accepted as true without proof
presumption, supposition

The assumption of many experts is that drama evolved from various rituals.

22. attachment cf. attach
n. an act or means of fastening; liking or affection
fastening, bond, affection

Emotional attachments play a significant role in the decisions that people make.

23. carry out

ph. to do the work of; to bring, take, or convey something
perform, convey, transport

African-American graphic artists carried out efforts to increase and promote the visual arts.

24. coin
1) v. to invent a new word or phrase
2) v. to manufacture coins from metal
1) originate, create 2) mint, stamp

The term beat was coined by Herbert Huncke, who meant it to be a synonym for tired or
down and out.

25. aristocracy
n. the highest social class, usually owning land and having titles
gentry, upper class

He is a member of the aristocracy but has little in terms of monetary wealth.

26. bland
adj. without any excitement, strong opinion, or special character; having very little taste
boring, insipid, tasteless

The main issue was that such a rigid structure made the opera bland and at times predictable.

27. emphasize
v. to put an emphasis or stress on something
stress, highlight, underscore

Mothers exaggerate their facial expressions, hold vowels longer, and emphasize certain words
when they communicate with their children.

28. dialect
n. a form of a language spoken in a particular region or by a certain social group
vernacular, tongue

They studied the local dialect and wrote stories which focused on life in specific regions of the
country.

29. come up with
ph. to produce something or to have an idea
conceive, hit upon

Companies are being required to come up with innovative ways of cutting costs because of the
economic circumstances.

30. current
1) adj. belonging to the present
2) n. the continuous steady flow of a body of water, air, or heat in a particular direction
1) present, contemporary 2) flow, stream

The term folk song has been current for over a hundred years.


1. spark
v. to emit sparks of fire or electricity; to stimulate, provoke, or start
ignite, stimulate, initiate

The booming economy sparked an explosion in real estate development.

2. devastate
v. to cause great destruction in or to something
ruin, destroy, ravage

After the war devastated the country, it took many years for everything to be rebuilt.

3. encourage
v. to give support, confidence, or hope to someone
cheer, hearten, inspire

The state government encouraged the internal improvements of the corporations in two
distinct ways.

4. effect
n. a result or condition produced by a cause; the way in which an event, action, or person
changes someone or something
result, consequence, impact

In the United States in the early 1800s, state governments had more effect on the economy
than the federal government.

5. end
n. an object or purpose
aim, goal

Toward the end to restore stability to the economy the government pursued several courses
of action.

6. toll
n. a fee or tax paid for the use of a bridge or road
charge, duty, impost

The canal lived up to the investors expectations, quickly paying for itself through tolls.

7. warrant
v. to justify something; to guarantee something as being of a specified quality or quantity
justify, promise, assure

Further explanations were not warranted since everyone understood what was happening.

8. phase
n. a stage or period in growth or development
state, period, stage

A full-scale Keynesian policy should grant the government a role in all phases of economic
life.

9. fragrance cf. fragrant
n. sweetness of smell
odor, scent, balm

Natural flavorings and fragrances are often costly and limited in supply.

10. sheer
adj. complete and not mixed with anything else
absolute, downright, plain

The decade of the 1870s was a period in which the sheer number of newspapers doubled.

11. significant
adj. important; worth noting or considering
critical, weighty, meaningful

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a particularly significant piece of legislation to AfricanAmericans.

12. concern
1) n. a feeling of worry about something important
2) n. a company or business
1) anxiety, apprehension 2) enterprise, firm

A business concern with two or more owners is referred to as a partnership.

13. sparse
adj. thinly scattered or dotted about
meager, scant, few

If the population in an area was sparse, the Black Death usually ran out of steam within a
year.

14. undertake
v. to accept a duty, responsibility, or task
take on, assume, accept

The Erie Canal was one of the greatest construction jobs that anyone had ever undertaken up
to that point.

15. catastrophic
adj. relating a terrible event in which there is a lot of destruction
calamitous, disastrous

A tsunami can be a catastrophic event that kills thousands of people and destroys their homes
and buildings.

16. coincide with
ph. to happen at the same time as
concur with, clash with

The rapid growth of Boston coincided with the immigration of huge numbers of people there.

17. alleviate
v. to make pain, a problem, suffering, or something else less severe
ease, relieve, mitigate

A support network of relatives and friends can alleviate much of the burden of raising a child.

18. antagonistic
adj. unfriendly; opposed to an idea or group
hostile, opposing, conflicting

Most plantation owners were antagonistic to the development of the towns.

19. declare
v. to announce something publicly or formally
announce, proclaim, pronounce

The United States declared war and quickly sent men to the European front during World War
II.

20. deem
v. to think of something in a particular way or as having a particular quality
consider, judge, think

The president can make such regulations covering the prohibition of alcoholic liquors as may
be deemed necessary.

21. equality
n. the state or quality of being equal
impartiality, fairness, equivalence

In 1957, Ralph Abernathy founded an organization devoted to achieving racial equality for
black Americans.

22. collapse
n. a sudden failure of something, such as an institution or a business, or a course of action
break-down, downfall, disintegration

The enormous size of the Roman Empire made it increasingly difficult to defend, setting the
stage for its eventual collapse in 476.

23. bar
v. to officially prevent someone from doing something
forbid, prohibit, ban

The political party urged that immigrants be barred from running for public office.

24. succinct
adj. clearly expressed in a few words; to the point
brief, concise, precise

He wrote a succinct and graphic account concerning the slum and housing problem in New
York City.

25. constrict
v. to make something narrower or tighter
compress, contract, squeeze

The experts predicted that growth could not continue and that the tight labor market would
constrict the economy.

26. allegiance
n. a commitment and duty to obey and be loyal to a government or sovereign
faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty

While some of the Indians had formed allegiances with French Jesuit priests, they were far
more suspicious of the British soldiers.

27. appealing
adj. evoking or attracting interest, desire, curiosity, or sympathy

attractive, inviting, fascinating

The most appealing publishing investments were small books that were steady sellers.

28. suit
v. to be appropriate to; in harmony with
fit, adapt, adjust

Reformers suggested that the education programs should suit the needs of the population.

29. cite
v. to mention something as an example, especially one that supports, proves, or explains an
idea or situation
quote, mention, refer to

When writing research papers, writers must cite the sources they use.

30. flaw
n. a mistake, mark, or weakness that makes something imperfect
fault, defect, blemish

A flaw in a jewel makes it less valuable.


1. disperse
v. to spread out over a wide area
diffuse, scatter, dissipate

The fact that white light is composed of various wavelengths may be demonstrated by
dispersing a beam of light through a prism.

2. emerge
v. to come out from somewhere
appear, arise, turn out

The species emerged from the water and moved onto the land.

3. emit
v. to give out light, heat, a sound, or a smell
send out, discharge, eject

Certain gases such as neon emit light when exposed to an electrical current.

4. vertical
adj. pointing up in a line that forms an angle of 90 with a flat surface
upright, erect, perpendicular

Although there are both horizontal and vertical movements of air, the term wind applies
only to horizontal movement.

5. exhilarating
adj. filling someone with a lively cheerfulness
invigorating, refreshing, cheering

Riding a space shuttle can be an exhilarating experience.

6. dense
adj. closely packed or crowded together
compact, solid, thick

The jungle is incredibly dense because of the huge amount of vegetation growing in it.

7. determine
v. to fix or settle the exact limits or nature of something; to form a firm intention
conclude, decide, resolve

Canadian researchers have discovered a set of genes that determine the lifespan of the
common nematode, a type of worm.

8. dissenting
adj. disagreeing, especially openly or hostilely
discording, disagreeing, conflicting

Our understanding of these ancient beasts has grown slowly, with many dissenting opinions
among the experts.

9. edible
adj. fit to be eaten; suitable to eat
eatable

Celery, an edible plant with long stalks topped with feathery leaves, grows best in cool
weather.

10. entire
adj. with nothing left out
complete, whole, total

Entire crops can be wiped out by fungal attacks both before and after harvesting.

11. fatal
adj. causing or resulting in death
mortal, lethal, deadly

Honeysuckle is a shrub that has fatal white or yellowish blossoms.

12. succumb
v. to give in to pressure, temptation, or desire
surrender, yield, give up

Most birds would succumb to the harsh weather and die if they did not migrate south for the
winter.

13. crave
v. to have a very strong, almost uncontrollable, desire for
desire, yearn, long for

Some insects may help ants by cleaning them or by giving them chemicals they crave.

14. upright
adj. standing straight up

erect, vertical, perpendicular

Kangaroos use their long and powerful tails to balance themselves when sitting upright or
jumping.

15. venture
v. to be so bold as to; to attempt something dangerous
risk, gamble, dare

Must crustaceans live in the sea, but some live in fresh water, and a few have ventured onto
land.

16. brood
n. a number of young animals, especially birds, that are produced or hatched at the same time
offspring, progeny, young

The mother duck led her brood into the pond.

17. bring about
ph. to cause to happen, occur, or exist
cause, produce, effect

Earthworms bring about changes in the soil by enriching it and making it more fertile.

18. carry
1) v. to hold something in ones hands or back while moving
2) v. to support somethings weight on ones body
1) convey, transport 2) support, maintain

Some parts of the lithosphere carry the ocean floor, and others carry land masses or a
combination of the two types.

19. comprise
v. to contain, include, or consist of something specified
compose, form

The core, mantle, and crust comprise the three layers of the Earth.

20. uncharted
adj. not fully explored or mapped in detail; not yet examined or fully investigated
unmapped, unexplored, unknown

The ocean bottom is a vast frontier that even today is largely unexplored and uncharted.

21. dot
1) v. to scatter; to cover with a scattering
2) n. a small and round mark
1) spot, fleck 2) speck, point

Steep, round hills called knobs dot southern Indiana.

22. imaginary
adj. existing only in the mind or imagination; not real
imagined, fictitious, fictional

The equator is an imaginary line running around the center of the Earth.

23. receptacle
n. a container or device that receives or holds something

container, holder, repository

The broken valleys of the Great Basin provided ready receptacles for the moisture.

24. diminish
v. to become or make something less or smaller
decrease, reduce, dwindle

The power of a hurricane becomes immediately diminished once over land because it is
disconnected from its warm-water energy source.

25. balmy
adj. warm and soft
gentle, mild

The Virgin Islands, located in the Caribbean Sea, have a balmy climate.

26. desperately
adv. recklessly or dangerously because of despair or urgency
impetuously, urgently, hopelessly

The moon and Mars could be a future source of natural resources desperately needed on Earth.

27. flame
v. to burn with flames
blaze, flare, glow

Jupiter would have flamed as a star in its own light.

28. sustainable
adj. capable of being sustained or maintained
supportable, endurable, bearable

Something absolutely necessary for a sustainable human settlement is water.

29. terrain
n. a stretch of land, especially with regard to its physical features
topography, territory, landscape

The moon may be divided into two major terrains ; the maria and the terrace.

30. extinguish
v. to put out a fire
put out, quench

After two full weeks of trying to fight it, the fire from the explosion was finally extinguished.


1. confine
v. to keep within limits; to keep in a small or enclosed space
restrict, limit, restrain

Workers in clay could generally afford to confine themselves to either decorated wares or
housewares.

2. dwelling
n. a house, flat, or something else where people live
habitation, house, residence

A few houses in New England were built of stone, but only in Pennsylvania and adjacent areas
was stone widely used in dwellings.

3. fasten
v. to make something firmly closed or fixed
tie, attach, lock

Before the plane takes off, passengers must fasten their seatbelts.

4. raze
v. to destroy something like a building or a town completely
demolish, tear down, knock down

Wrecking balls are used to raze buildings.

5. annihilate
v. to destroy something completely
exterminate, eliminate

Human beings have the power to annihilate many species as well as damage the balance of
their own balance with nature.

6. clumsy
adj. unskillful with the hands or awkward and ungainly in movement
unhandy, ungraceful, awkward

Seals appear clumsy on land, but they are able to move short distances faster than most people
can run.

7. conceal
v. to hide; to place out of sight
hide, cover, secrete

The researchers argued that the city was threatened by faults which lay concealed
underground inside it.

8. critical
adj. of or being a moment of great danger, difficulty, or uncertainty
crucial, vital, momentous

Biological diversity has become widely recognized as a critical conservation issue.

9. demise
n. the termination of existence or operation
death, loss

A shortage of funds led to the demise of the program.

10. deplete
v. to reduce greatly in number or quantity; to use up supplies, money, energy, or resources
consume, expend, exhaust

The remains of organisms are recycled in the earth, which is fortunate because, otherwise, soil
and water would soon become depleted of essential nutrients.

11. sequence
n. a series or succession of things in a specific order; the order two or more things follow
series, succession, order

Equally interesting is the fact that the ants execution of multiple-step tasks is accomplished in
a series-parallel sequence.

12. turbulent
adj. having a restless or uncontrolled quality; violently disturbed
wild, unruly, stormy

Small mammals suffer hardship in the exposed and turbulent environment of the uppermost
trees.

13. typify
v. to be an excellent or characteristic example of something
exemplify, represent, symbolize

High mountains typify the terrain of Tibet and Nepal.

14. unprecedented
adj. without precedent; not known ever to have happened before
unheard-of, unusual

The developed countries of the world are using valuable resources at an unprecedented rate.

15. feverish
adj. having a tendency to produce a fever; excited, restless, or uncontrolled
inflamed, fervent, passionate

The Civil War created feverish manufacturing activity to supply critical materials, especially
in the North.

16. permanent
adj. lasting or intended to last for a long time
eternal, perpetual, everlasting

Heavy drinking can cause permanent damage to the brain.

17. maintain
1) v. to keep something in existence
2) v. to continue to argue something
1) preserve, keep 2) contend, claim

Consumers are misled if they believe organic foods can maintain health and provide better
nutritional quality than conventionally grown foods.

18. screen
1) v. to shelter or conceal
2) v. to test someone in order to check for the presence of a disease

1) shield, cover 2) examine, scan

Now, all blood is rigorously screened for HIV and other viruses.

19. stride
n. a single long step in walking; an advance or development
pace, step, development

From these studies, great strides have been made in treating patients.

20. surpass
v. to go or be beyond in degree or extent
better, exceed, outdo

It was reported that internal medicine would surpass surgery in value to the human race
within the next twenty-five years.

21. unsubstantiated
adj. not substantiated; unable to prove the truth of something
unverified, unproved

There are numerous unsubstantiated reports that natural vitamins are superior to synthetic
ones.

22. ward (off)
v. to fend off, turn aside, or parry a blow; to keep trouble, hunger, or disease away
block, avoid, avert

Some plants are able to ward off animals by emitting noxious fumes that drive them away.

23. articulate
v. to pronounce words or to speak clearly and distinctly
enunciate

Each sound is considered and analyzed before it is articulated.

24. element
n. a part of something; a component or feature
constituent, ingredient, factor

Hydrogen, although it is the most abundant element in the universe, is not freely found on
Earth.

25. fabric
n. woven, knitted, or felted cloth
textile, cloth

Natural silk is highly prized in spite of the availability of similar artificial fabrics.

26. serve as
ph. to be in the service of; to work for
function as, act as

Pheromones are substances that serve as chemical signals between members of the same
species.

27. brittle
adj. hard but easily broken or likely to break
fragile, breakable, weak

Steel is not as brittle as cast iron, so it does not break as easily.

28. vibration
n. a vibrating motion; a single movement back and forth in vibrating
oscillation, shaking, shivering

The sensation of sound is produced when vibrations transmitted through the air strike the
eardrum.

29. dazzling
adj. temporarily blinding; fascinating
brilliant, bright, dizzying

The snow on the mountaintop was dazzling in the bright morning sun.

30. device
n. a tool or instrument made for a special purpose
instrument, apparatus, contrivance

An odometer is a device used to measure distance.


1. outlaw
n. someone who has committed a crime
gangster, desperado, criminal

Jesse was an outlaw, a bandit, and a criminal.

2. enable
v. to make someone able to do something
entitle, empower, capacitate

The economic aid would only last long enough to enable the people to help themselves.

3. fundamental
adj. serving as or being an essential part of a foundation or basis
essential, rudimentary, basic

The fundamental ideals embodied in the Constitution should not be lightly considered.

4. ignorant
adj. lacking knowledge or information about something
unknowing, unaware, unlearned

Critics ignorant of the conditions attacked the proposed method to fix the problem as wasteful
and dangerous.

5. transportation
n. the act of transporting or the process of being transported

conveyance, moving, carriage

Steam travel finally became a viable means of transportation in the late eighteenth centuries.

6. behold
v. to look at something or someone
notice, see, look at

The steamboats must have been something to behold on the rivers due to their size and
elaborate, even luxurious, construction and appearance.

7. mobility cf. mobile
n. the ability to be moved easily
movability, portability, transportability

The troops mobility was their greatest asset in warfare.

8. moreover
adv. beside what has been said; and what is more important
in addition, besides, furthermore

Moreover, even when people in different places use the material in a similar manner, the style
of their work still varies.

9. chore
n. a domestic task; a boring or unenjoyable task
drudgery

The earliest pottery was used for chores, with no attempt to make them works of art.

10. partition
v. to divide into parts, pieces, or sections
separate, divide, split

Partitioned rooms in log houses became the new style as they replaced the simple cabins
people used to live in.

11. paramount
adj. greater than all others in importance or influence; of supreme importance
primary, supreme, predominant

Tradition is paramount, and most tribes are hesitant to make any changes.

12. durability
n. the ability to be strong and to last for a long time without breaking or becoming weaker
endurance, stability, firmness

The durability of the pottery was crucial to the tribes since making ceramics was not easy for
them to do.

13. establish
v. to set up
create, found, organize

The Rodeo Cowboy Association was founded in 1936 to establish standards and regulations
for the sport.

14. ethnic
adj. relating to or having a common race or cultural tradition

racial, native

The Harlem Renaissance combined realism, ethnic consciousness, and Americanism.

15. assortment cf. an assortment of
n. a mixed collection
group, collection, array

An assortment of bones was found at the site, which helped improved scientists understanding
of the ancient culture.

16. clarity
n. the quality of being clear and pure
clearness, distinctness, definition

Clarity and structure became the foundation of the opera seria.

17. witness
v. to see or notice something by being present when it happens
observe, behold, watch

In 1905, he went to Paris to work with an art dealer, and it was there that he later witnessed
the formative years of Cubism.

18. devote
v. to use or give up a resource such as time or money wholly to some purpose
dedicate, pledge, consecrate

Ordinary citizens sometimes devote their entire lives to serving humanity unselfishly.

19. enforce
v. to cause a law or decision to be carried out effectively; to make something happen
administer, implement, carry out

These images are meant to enforce how foolish and pitiful the character really is.

20. essence
n. the basic distinctive part or quality of something, which determines its nature or character;
a basic nature
nature, principle, core

The essence of folk music is how it reflects the humanity of the people who created it.

21. climax
n. the high point or culmination of a series of events or of an experience
peak, apex, culmination

Arias usually followed as a climax and revealed the emotion or internal conflict of the actors.

22. composite
n. a combination of two or more materials
aggregate, combination, compound

Some say that neither the Iliad nor Odyssey was written by a single poet but rather that each
poem is a composite of the writings of several people.

23. encompass
v. to surround completely; to include or be concerned with
encircle, enclose, include

The term art deco has come to encompass three distinct but related design trends of the
1920s and 1930s.

24. deliberate
adj. done on purpose or as a result of careful planning
intentional, planned, careful

The artist began the deliberate process of painting the individual flowers in his landscape.

25. husbandry
n. the farming business
farming, agriculture

The advent of animal husbandry led to advancements in every aspect of human development
from science to psychology.

26. hallmark
n. a typical or distinctive feature, especially of quality
characteristic, identification

One hallmark of jazz music is the way that the best musicians can improvise so easily during
their performances.

27. gesture
n. the movement of the body as an expression of meaning
motion, indication, signal

In all cultures, gestures are used as a form of communication.

28. discipline
1) n. strict training or the enforcing of rules
2) n. an area of learning
1) drilling, regulation 2) field, area

Every scientific discipline tends to develop its own special language because it finds ordinary
words inadequate, and psychology is no different.

29. gala
n. an occasion of special entertainment or a public festivity
celebration, festival, feast

Many people celebrate the new year with gala parties.

30. immerse
v. to put completely under water
sink, dip, submerge

Daguerre discovered that an image could be made permanent by immersing it in salt.


1. engage in
ph. to take part in; to be involved in
participate in, partake in, enter into

In the early 1800s, over 80 percent of the United States labor force was engaged in
agriculture.

2. exclusive
adj. involving the rejection or denial of everything else
sole, only, unique

A copyright is an exclusive right to copy, sell, or perform a creative work such as a book or
play.

3. halt
n. an interruption or stop in movement, progression, or growth
stop, cessation, standstill

World War II began, which brought an immediate halt to all commercial airline service to
Europe as well as Asia.

4. precious
adj. of great value, especially because something is very expensive or much loved
valuable, dear, beloved

Salt was once so precious that some cultures used it as a form of money.

5. prosper
v. to do well, especially financially
flourish, thrive, succeed

Trade with Britain and the West Indies allowed Colonial seaports such as Boston to prosper.

6. sluggish
adj. unenergetic; habitually lazy or inactive
stagnant, lethargic, lazy

Some economists believe that the best way to get a sluggish economy moving again is to cut
taxes.

7. sound
adj. not damaged or injured; in good condition
undamaged, unimpaired, firm

Government bonds and blue-chip stocks are sound investments.

8. ware
n. manufactured goods of a specified material or for a specified range of use
merchandise, commodity, supply

In the past, many salesmen tried to sell their wares door-to-door.

9. pervasive
adj. tending to or having the power to spread everywhere
prevalent, widespread, permeate

The influence of the thoughts has been so pervasive that its theoretical approaches have come
to be known in academic circles as the Chicago School.

10. nurse
v. to hold something with care; to look after sick or injured people
care for, look after, attend

Female lions cannot go into estrus and get pregnant while they are nursing lion infants.

11. proceed
v. to make ones way; to go on
advance, progress, continue

Real estate subdivision in the cities proceeded much faster than population growth.

12. donate
v. to give, especially to charity
contribute, bestow, grant

In 1899, Mary Elizabeth Brown donated a couple of hundred musical instruments to the
museum.

13. remarkably
adv. considerably; significantly
noticeably, unusually, extraordinarily

The urban population grew remarkably quickly during this time, mostly because people were
moving to the cities to look for work.

14. gregarious
adj. seeking and enjoying the company of others
companionable, sociable

A gregarious person avoids solitude.

15. confer
v. to grant someone an honor or distinction
give, award, present

In the family, traditional cultural patterns confer leadership on one or both of the parents.

16. constitute
v. to be an element or part of; to establish laws or an institution
form, compose, establish

A soldiers refusal to commit an illegal act does not constitute rebellion.

17. linear
adj. of, consisting of, or using lines; extended or arranged in a line
straight, straightway

The usually uncritical acceptance of this thesis led in turn to the assumption that the
application of science to industrial purposes was a linear process.

18. bias
n. an inclination to favor or disfavor one side against
inclination, prejudice, leaning

Throughout the 19th century and into the 20th century, farmers in the U.S. maintained a bias
against big cities.

19. exempt
adj. free from some obligation; not liable
excused, free, immune

Some parents were motivated to send their children to private schools, which were exempt
from governmental restrictions.

20. negligible
adj. small or unimportant enough to ignore
trivial, insignificant, trifling

Although the accident appeared serious, only a negligible amount of damage was done.

21. impose
v. to make a payment of a tax or fine; to make the performance of a duty compulsory
levy, place, force

The government imposed strict regulations on the people for the duration of the war.

22. reckless
adj. heedless of the consequences of ones actions or behavior
rash, careless, imprudent

Motorists can be fined for reckless driving.

23. bound
n. a limit or boundary; a limitation
border, confines, extent

Education knows no bounds.

24. atheist
n. a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings
nonbeliever, infidel

Allen was an outspoken atheist who was an advocate of deistic thought.

25. detect
v. to see or to notice; to discover the presence of
uncover, discover, notice

The objective of the experiment was to detect consciousness in animals to see if they are selfaware or not.

26. milestone
n. a very important event; a significant point or stage
landmark

Gallups report of the experiment was milestone in our understanding of animal minds.

27. overthrow
v. to defeat completely an established order or a government
overpower, dethrone, defeat

In 509 B.C., the Roman Republic was established after the citizens of Rome overthrew the
ruling Etruscans.

28. overtax
v. to demand too much tax from someone; to burden heavily
overload, overdo

The public school system suddenly found itself overtaxed.

29. headquarter
v. to locate the center of an organization or group from which activities are controlled
base

The International Herald Tribune, which is co-owned by the Washington Post and The New
York Times, is headquartered in Paris.

30. zealous
adj. enthusiastic; keen
eager, ardent, fervent

Although he was a sickly child, Theodore Roosevelt eventually became a zealous outdoorsman
who extolled the virtues of vigorous exertion.


1. formulate
v. to express something in terms of a formula; to express something precisely and clearly
systematize, devise, articulate

Some possible solutions to the problem are being formulated.

2. incorporate
v. to contain something as part of a whole; to combine something
consolidate, merge, unite

When hypotheses are confirmed, they are into incorporated theories.

3. strand
n. a single thin piece of thread, wire, or hair
string, fiber, thread

Ropes are cords at least 0.15 inches in diameter and are made of three or more strands which
are themselves formed of twisted yarns.

4. cell
n. a piece of equipment for producing electricity from
chemicals, heat, or light

His subsequent hydrogen fuel cells never produced enough electricity to justify the expense of
creating them.

5. flourish
v. to be strong and healthy; to grow well
prosper, thrive, flower

Tulips also flourished in Pennsylvania.

6. frigid
adj. cold and unfriendly
cold, frosty, chilly

During the frigid winters, food sources become scarce, and migration to more fertile feeding
grounds becomes mandatory for their survival.

7. instance
n. an example, especially one of a particular condition or circumstance
case, illustration, occurrence

In many instances, the specimens are less than one-tenth of a millimeter in diameter.

8. gap
n. a space between two things or in the middle of something
rift, crevice, hole, cavity

The crossbill winds its long tongue into the gap of the nut and draws out the seed.

9. fuse
v. to melt as a result of the application of heat; to join by, or as if by, melting together
melt, blend, combine

The male and female reproductive organs of orchids are fused together into a single structure.

10. lump
n. an irregularly shaped mass or piece
chunk, clot, bump

As centuries passed, lumps of the resin were covered by layers of soil.

11. shed light on
ph. to clear up; to provide information about
throw light on, clarify, elucidate

This finding sheds new light on the inexorable process of aging and death.

12. heart
n. the most central part; the most important part
center, core, essence

The heart of a comet is typically quite solid and can be more than ten kilometers in diameter.

13. startling
adj. causing someone to be slightly shocked or surprised
amazing, surprising, astonishing

The difference between a hummingbird and a penguin is immense, but it is hardly as startling
as the between a bat and a whale.

14. sterile
adj. incapable of producing offspring, fruit, or seeds
unproductive, infertile, barren

Typically, a colony consists of the queen, sterile female workers, and males.

15. canopy
n. a covering over something for decoration or protection; the upper level of the trees in a
rainforest
ceiling, roof, tent

The canopy holds plenty of climbing mammals that are moderately large.

16. convert
v. to change the form or function of one thing into another
alter, change, transform

The term latent heat refers to the energy that has to be used to convert liquid water to water
vapor.

17. demolish
v. to destroy or ruin a building or other structure on purpose; to tear down
raze, smash, break down

When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, it demolished a large amount of the ice field that
surrounded it.

18. overcome
v. to fight successfully in a struggle or conflict
get over, conquer, defeat

Nesting on a narrow ledge has its own peculiar problems, and the birds behavior has become
adapted to overcome them.

19. texture
n. the structure formed by smaller particles; the way the surface of a substance feels
fabric, feel

The texture of the soil can be determined by physically changing the shape of the soil with
ones hands.

20. initiate
v. to make something begin; to be responsible for starting
commence, launch, start

In addition, snowfall may be initiated when mountainous regions cause moist air to elevate.

21. drench
v. to flow or make something flow in a thin stream or drops
drown, immerse, soak

Despite the long-term lack of rain, deserts occasionally are drenched by violent storms.

22. adjunct
n. something attached or added to something else but which is not an essential part of it
appendage, attachment, accessory

In North America, potash making quickly became an adjunct to the cleaning of land for
agriculture.

23. uneven
adj. not smooth or flat; bumpy
irregular, rough, rugged

Essentially, winds are natures way of balancing the uneven distribution of air pressure over
the Earth.

24. tepid
adj. slightly or only just warm
lukewarm, warmish

Hurricanes pose the greatest threat to human populations when they track eastward to the
tepid waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

25. sporadically
adv. at irregular intervals; not continuously
occasionally, intermittently

Lichens and moss grow on the rocks while small tufts of grass spring up sporadically in
between the boulders and stones.

26. obvious
adj. easily seen, recognized, or understood
clear, apparent, evident

No two comets ever look identical, but they have basic features in common, one of the most
obvious of which is a coma.

27. plunge
v. to dive, throw oneself, fall, or rush headlong into something; to thrust or push something
fall, drop, pitch

When the comet plunged into Jupiters atmosphere and struck the planet, astronomers were
watching as closely as they could.

28. suitable
adj. having the right qualities for a particular person, purpose, or situation
appropriate, fitting, proper

If a suitable amount of water is found on the planet, it could enable colonies to be established
there much more easily.

29. trek
n. a long and hard journey
trip, journey, hike

GPS receiving devices are becoming standard in most new car designs and are a favorite of
hunters and fishermen making long treks in the wilderness.

30. peril
n. grave danger, especially of being harmed or killed
threat, risk, jeopardy

While high winds are commonly associated with the perils of hurricanes, the most destructive
factor is the accompanying storm surge as it strikes land.


1. elaborate
adj. complicated in design; carefully planned or worked out
intricate, painstaking, meticulous

Arriving in the New World during the 1600s, early American settlers had little resources for or
interest in elaborate furniture.

2. erect
v. to put up or build something; to set up or establish something
construct, create, found

Many buildings in that style were erected nationwide thanks to government programs.

3. rectangular
adj. relating to a four-sided figure with opposite sides of equal length
square, four-sided, right-angled

Within its rectangular walls, permanent houses were built, replacing the thatched dwellings of
the original Manhattanites.

4. unify
v. to bring two or more things together to form a single unit
combine, integrate, unite

All of the parks and squares were meant to supplement the major road, which was to remain
the unifying factor for the entire system.

5. aptly
adv. in an apt or suitable manner
fitly, appropriately, properly

The road has been aptly called the metropolitan corridor of the American landscape.

6. eliminate
v. to completely get rid of something that is unnecessary or unwanted
remove, exterminate, obliterate

Certain species may be eliminated while others may survive for no particular reason.

7. aquatic
adj. involving or happening in water
marine, oceanic

Rodents dwell in various habitats, with some species being aquatic and others terrestrial.

8. efficient
adj. producing satisfactory results with an economy of effort
effective, proficient, economic

Believe it or not, diesel is both rich in energy and highly efficient.

9. habitat
n. the natural home of an animal or plant
home, niche, territory

Watching the behavior of diverse animal species in their natural habitats, Lopez and
Tinbergen observed behavior patterns that promote survival.

10. ensure
v. to make something certain; to assure or guarantee something
assure, confirm, guarantee

The behavioral ensures that the young will stay close to their mother and be protected from
danger.

11. stress
v. to emphasize or attach importance to something
accent, underscore, spotlight

The woods importance in the communities of colonial North America need hardly be stressed.

12. striking
adj. unusual or interesting enough to be easily noticed
extraordinary, remarkable, impressive

Perhaps the most unique aspect of butterfly diversity is the striking difference in species
richness between tropical and temperate regions.

13. pliable
adj. able to bend without breaking or cracking
flexible, elastic, malleable

Platinum is harder than copper and is almost as pliable as gold.

14. teem with
ph. to be very full of people or animals, which are all moving about
proliferate with, swarm with, overflow with

The waters off the east coast of the United States once teemed with immense schools of fish,
some as many as a mile across.

15. obtain
v. to get something that is necessary
acquire, gain, procure

Vitamin C is obtained from citrus fruits.

16. nutritional
adj. relating to the substances in food that make or stay healthy
nourishing, nutritive, alimentary

If ones basic nutritional needs are being met, he or she should not need to take vitamin
supplements.

17. deter
v. to discourage or restrain from acting
inhibit, prevent, check

Another form of biological pest control is to include various plants in a garden or field that
are known naturally to deter parasitic pests.

18. portable
adj. easily carried or moved and usually designed to be so
transportable, carryable, handy

Some stutterers carry a portable device that allows them to hear their own words with a time
delay.

19. populate
v. to inhabit or live in a certain area
settle, occupy

Skeletal muscles populate the human body more than any other kind of muscles.

20. precede
v. to go or be before someone or something
predate, lead, herald

Occasionally, the episode may be preceded by some visible drowsiness, but it usually just hits
out of nowhere.

21. prescribe
v. to advise a medicine as a remedy, especially by completing a prescription
direct, specify, order

In herbal therapy, special herbs are prescribed by a doctor to be taken in a hot liquid form.

22. reaction
n. a response to a stimulus
reply, feedback, repulsion

A chemical reaction that absorbs heat is called endothermic.

23. respiratory
adj. relating to breathing or the lungs

breathing, respiring

Examples of smooth muscle can be found in the respiratory tissues.

24. at odds
ph. at variance; in disagreement
disagreeing, conflicting, on bad terms

Scientists, physicians, and psychologists have often been at odds about how the brain
functions.

25. ingredient
n. one of the parts that make up a whole
constituent, element, factor

When the two ingredients are mixed together, under certain conditions, the results can be
deadly.

26. noxious
adj. causing or capable of causing harm; poisonous
harmful, nocuous, toxic

One result of the industrial complex construction was an increased concentration of noxious
chemicals in the air.

27. subject (to)
adj. likely to be affected by something, especially something bad; being under domination,
control, or influence
vulnerable, prone, submissive

Plants are subject to attack and infection by a remarkable variety of symbiotic species and
have evolved a diverse array of mechanisms designed to frustrate potential colonists.

28. protein
n. a substance that exists in foods such as meat, eggs, and beans and which a body needs in
order to grow and to remain strong and healthy

A fever is caused when blood cells release proteins called pyrogens, which raise the bodys
temperature.

29. artificial
adj. made by human effort; not occurring naturally
man-made, unnatural

In a domed stadium, natural grass cannot be grown, so artificial turf is used on the playing
field.

30. harness
v. to control and use the natural force or power of something
utilize, apply, exploit

Dams can harness the power of rivers, but they may also destroy their beauty.


1. implication
n. a possible effect or result of an action or a decision; something that is suggested or
indirectly stated
hint, insinuation, connotation

Pennsylvanias colonial ironmasters forged iron and a revolution that had both industrial and
political implications.

2. accompany
v. to go along or in company with; to join in action
attend, go with, escort

Forms of music often accompanied the stories to instill emotion and climax in the history.

3. dexterous
adj. skillful in physical movements, especially of the hands
deft, artful, shrewd

Dexterous with axes, snares, and fishing lines, these men blazed the trails, built the first log
cabins, and confronted Native American tribes.

4. prevent
v. to stop someone from doing something or from happening
prohibit, inhibit, forestall

The availability of fresh meat was very limited; there was no way to prevent spoilage.

5. unrestricted cf. restrict
adj. not limited by anyone or anything
unlimited, unimpeded, free

The herds of cattle no longer had unrestricted use of the plains for grazing, and the fencing
led to conflict between the farmers and the cattle ranchers.

6. administer
v. to manage, govern, or direct ones affairs or an organization
direct, manage

The National Marine Sanctuaries Program is administered by the National Oceanic
Administration.

7. migrate
v. to travel from one region to another; to leave one place to settle in another
move, resettle, relocate

At this point, early groups of humans began to migrate both east and west.

8. funeral
n. the ceremonial burial or cremation of a dead person
burial, interment

Funeral rites have always played important roles in human history.

9. innovative
adj. introducing or using new ideas or ways of doing something
creative, imaginative, ingenious

One innovative approach on the functions of the stone tools involves studying damage and
wear on them.

10. frame
1) v. to compose or design something
2) n. a hard main structure or basis to something
1) construct, devise 2) structure, framework

The questions behaviorists framed and the techniques they used were designed to help them
understand how people behaved.

11. recall
v. to bring back from memory
recollect, remember, reminisce

Some archeologists recalled complicated emotions when they had finally found the artifacts.

12. excavate
v. to dig up or uncover something, especially historical remains
unearth, uncover, expose

It was not until the 1890s that archaeologists excavating in city-states to the south of Nineveh
found many thousands of tablets inscribed only in Sumerian.

13. isolated cf. isolate
adj. placed or standing alone or apart
separated, secluded, unconnected

The ideal situation for the creation of folk music is an isolated rural community.

14. fashion
1) v. to make something into a particular shape
2) n. a way of making or doing something
1) make, manufacture 2) manner, way

The Native Americans in northern California were highly skilled at basketry, using reeds,
grasses, and roots to fashion articles of all sorts and sizes.

15. coffin
n. a box into which a corpse is put for cremation or burial
casket, pall

The climax occurs at the end of the feast, when the body is placed in a coffin and carried to its
final resting place.

16. conduct
v. to carry out a particular activity or process; to lead or guide
run, direct, manage

Recently, some anthropologists conducted an interesting case study in ethnology.

17. evoke
v. to cause or to produce a response or reaction
invoke, raise, make

The purpose of a poem need not be to inform the reader of anything but rather to evoke a
feeling to create a sensual, aesthetically pleasing experience.

18. genius
n. someone who has an outstanding creative or intellectual ability
brain, intellect, mastermind

Today, his work tends to be poorly known among historians though some call him an intuitive
genius far ahead of his peers.

19. imitate
v. to copy the behavior, manners, or appearance of someone; to use something as a model
mimic, copy

Numerous assistants, who had been trained to imitate the artists style, applied the paint.

20. exert
v. to use power or influence in order to make something happen
exercise, expend, use

The pressures exerted along the foot, together with the length of the stride, which averaged 87
centimeters, indicated that the hominids had been walking slowly.

21. deserving
adj. worthy of being given support or a reward
creditable, estimable, praiseworthy

Annual cash awards are given to deserving artists in various categories.

22. note
v. to notice or pay careful attention to something
observe, perceive, notice

Other investigators have noted that when mothers talk to babies who are only a few months
old, they exaggerate the pitch, loudness, and intensity of their words.

23. infinite
adj. having no boundaries or limits in size, extent, time, or space
boundless, endless, limitless

In The Library of Babel, Borges describes an infinite library that contains all possible texts.

24. culmination
n. the top or highest point; the attainment or arrival at the highest point of glory, power, or
something else
peak, zenith, climax

His death was simply a culmination of years and years of trouble, pain, and suffering.

25. consciously
adv. with full awareness of what one is doing
intentionally, deliberately, knowingly

In playing hot jazz, a musician consciously departs from strict meter to create a relaxed sense
of phrasing that emphasizes the underlying rhythms.

26. idiosyncratic
adj. peculiar to a specific individual; rather unusual
eccentric, odd, strange

At first, the poems of Cummings gained notoriety for their idiosyncratic punctuation and
typography, but they have been gradually recognized for their lyric power.

27. elastic
adj. able to return to its original shape or size after being pulled or pressed out of shape
flexible, stretchable, pliable

Sound is any disturbance that travels through an elastic medium, such as air, ground, or water,
to be heard by the human ear.

28. discrimination
n. the ability to draw fine distinctions; biased judgment
discernment, prejudice

Babies enter the world with the ability to make precisely those perceptual discriminations that
are necessary if they are to acquire aural language.

29. flamboyant
adj. brightly colored and easily noticed; excessively showy
flashy, garish, eye-catching

In the 1960s, mens clothing underwent revolutionary changes in color and fabric, becoming
flamboyant for the first time in the 20th century.

30. embrace
1) v. to hold someone closely in the arms affectionately or as a greeting
2) v. to include something as a part
1) hug, clasp 2) include, encompass

Some of these artists came to truly embrace life in small towns and to reject city life and socalled sophisticated society.


1. precipitous
adj. very sudden; dangerously high or steep
abrupt, steep, sheer

Besides ruining many thousands of individual investors, the precipitous decline in the value of
assets greatly strained banks and other financial institutions.

2. confront
v. to face someone; to prepare to deal firmly with something
encounter, face, defy

Staggering tasks confronted the people of the United States, both the North and the South,
when the Civil War ended.

3. tedious
adj. tiresomely long-winded or dull
boring, overlong, monotonous

The use of robots and automated machinery has eliminated certain tedious factory jobs.

4. transition
n. a change or passage from one condition or place to another
alteration, change, conversion

The United States economy underwent a massive transition, and the nature of work was
permanently altered.

5. virtually
adv. in practice, though not strictly speaking
substantially, practically, nearly

The land surrounding Boston had always been poor farm country, and, by the mid-eighteenth
century, it was virtually stripped of its timber.

6. courteously
adv. in a polite manner
politely, considerately, respectfully

Workers in the service sector should be trained to act as courteously as possible.

7. seasoned
adj. rendered competent through trial and experience
trained, experienced, veteran

Seasoned workers are more valuable to employers than beginners.

8. soar
v. to rise or fly high into the air
rise, increase, skyrocket

Cotton production soared as southern farmers turned their land into cotton plantations.

9. extraordinary
adj. very unusual or surprising; much greater or more impressive than usual
strange, abnormal, outstanding

The combination of new immigrants and old American settlers on Americas urban
frontier in the late 19th century proved extraordinary.

10. magnify
v. to make something seem bigger or louder, especially using special equipment
amplify, enlarge, augment

Rapid industrialization and increased geographic mobility in the nineteenth century has
special implications for women because these changes tended to magnify social distinctions.

11. makeup
n. the combination of characteristics or ingredients that form something
composition, constitution, arrangement

As the population grew, its makeup also changed.

12. merchandise
n. goods that are being sold
commodities, products, staples

The men bought or traded farm animals and acquired needed merchandise in the market.

13. metropolis
n. a very large city that is the most important city in a country or area
megalopolis, municipality

By 1930, the United States had ten giant metropolises.

14. corruption cf. corrupt
n. a sinking to a state of low moral standards

depravity, perversion

Most lived in small towns and believed cities to be centers of corruption, crime, and moral
degradation.

15. descent
n. family origins or ancestry
lineage, bloodline, ancestry

Some cultures trace a persons ancestry back through the mothers line, which is known as the
matrilineal system of descent.

16. circulation
1) n. the passing of something from one person or place to another
2) n. the distribution of a newspaper or magazine
1) distribution, diffusion 2) issuance

In fact, the circulation of weekly magazines exceeded that of newspapers in the period.

17. competitiveness
n. the ability of a company, country, or a product to compete with others
rivalry

In the context of extreme competitiveness and dizzying social change, the household lost many
of its earlier functions.

18. disdain
n. a lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
contempt, scorn

Their disputes with Hamilton over his pro-business economic program and disdain for the
common man contributed to the formation of the first U.S. party system.

19. constraint
n. something that limits ones freedom of action or choice
restraint, limitation, curb

The time constraints prevented the subjects from finishing the test on time.

20. budget
n. an estimate of expected income and expenses for a given period
fund, pool

The military was restricted by its minuscule budget.

21. particulars
n. the facts and details about a job, property, or legal case
details, specifics, minutiae

The study revealed particulars that seem to hold true for the general population.

22. step in
ph. to become involved in an activity, discussion, or disagreement
intervene, intercede

The town board was forced to step in and put a stop to the development in the area.

23. plead
v. to ask someone for something in a very strong and serious way; to state in a court of law
that one is guilty or not guilty
petition, argue, assert

In 1977, Richard Helms pleaded guilty to charges of inaccurately testifying about CIA
activities in Chile.

24. attune
v. to adjust or to prepare for a situation or something
adjust, accord, harmonize

A new type of newspaper, one that was more attuned to the spirit and needs of the new
America, appeared around this time.

25. disgust
n. a strong feeling of dislike, annoyance, or disapproval
loathing, hatred, nausea

Eight pigeons were shown photographs of people displaying emotions of happiness, anger,
surprise, and disgust.

26. assessment
n. the act of calculating or deciding the value or amount of something
estimation, evaluation, judgment

One is a conscious, rational assessment of the danger, and the other is an unconscious, innate
reaction.

27. chance
1) n. likelihood that something will happen, especially something desirable
2) adj. not planned or expected

1) probability, prospect 2) accidental, causal

A chance conversation with a stranger may lead a person to discover how little is known of
other religions.

28. integral
adj. being a necessary part of a whole
essential, fundamental, elemental

Education is a lifelong process that starts long before the start of school and is one that should
be an integral part of ones entire life.

29. palatial cf. palace
adj. like a palace in magnificence or spaciousness
luxurious, grand, splendid

Miami Beach is a popular year-round resort, famous for its gold coast hotel strip, palatial
estates, and recreational facilities.

30. adoption
n. the act of taking and using as ones own
acceptance

In 1923, he began a campaign to promote the adoption of an amendment to the United States
Constitution mandating equal rights for women.


1. minute
adj. very small
tiny, minuscule, little

Quarks are minute particles that are believed to be the fundamental unit of matter.

2. cross-sectional
adj. made in horizontal sections
cross-sectioned

The strength of a rope is directly proportional to its cross-sectional area.

3. spike
1) n. a large metal nail
2) v. to rise dramatically
1) peg, pin 2) skyrocket

The result was the most catastrophic nuclear disaster ever as radioactive levels spiked in the
surrounding areas.

4. literally
adv. according to the words and not the intention
strictly, exactly, word for word

These animals were the pterosaurs, literally, the winged lizards.

5. merely
adv. only as specified and nothing more
only, simply, purely

The plovers nests are merely scrapes in the sand or earth.

6. random
adj. having no specific pattern
accidental, haphazard, unsystematic

Far from being random, molting is controlled by strong evolutionary forces that have
established an optimal time and duration.

7. rear
v. to feed and educate children; to bring up
nurture, raise, care for

Among the species of seabirds that use the cliffs on the Atlantic coast in Canada to mate, lay
eggs, and rear their young are common murres.

8. recruit
v. to enroll or obtain new members
mobilize, draft, enlist

When they fight with insects from outside their colony, Argentine ants can quickly recruit a
huge army from their network of nests.

9. refuge cf. refugee
n. a shelter or protection from danger or trouble
haven, asylum, sanctuary

Wetlands provide refuge for many species of birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians.

10. respiration
n. the act of respiring or breathing
exhalation

The process of respiration in plants involves a complex series of chemical reactions.

11. robust
adj. strong and healthy; with a strong constitution
vigorous, hardy, sturdy

This bird has a large, robust bill, yet it is not the most prominent feature on the animal.

12. rotting cf. rotten
adj. decaying or causing to decay by a gradual natural process
decomposing, decaying, spoiling

Both animals lived and foraged primarily in the soil and in rotting vegetation on the ground.

13. scramble
v. to crawl or to climb, especially hurriedly or frantically
clamber, scrabble, crawl

The animals small size makes it easy for it to scramble for insects, flowers, or fruit among the
twigs and branches in the canopy.

14. conspicuous
adj. visibly noticeable or obvious

prominent, outstanding, vivid

Many mountaineers wear orange and other bright colors in order to be as conspicuous as
possible.

15. seep
v. to pass slowly through small openings or pores
leak, drain, ooze

Millions of years ago in the Oligocene Epoch of Earths history, clear resin seeped from pine
trees growing in the Baltic Sea basin.

16. dubious
adj. feeling doubt; unsure
doubtful, suspicious, ambiguous

They objected to the plan because the replenishment programs are costly and of dubious value.

17. edge
n. the part farthest from the middle of something
border, boundary, rim

Prehistoric people used flint to make tools and weapons because it could be chipped into
shapes with sharp edges.

18. seismic
adj. relating to or characteristic of earthquakes

The way that seismic waves travel shows that the Earths interior is far from uniform.

19. sort out
ph. to separate from a mass or group
classify, group, divide

To measure soil texture, the sand, silt, and clay particles are sorted out by size and weight.

20. squeeze
v. to grasp or embrace tightly; to get or force out by squeezing
compress, press, extract

The ability of oil companies to squeeze out more production by using new technology has
added to the surplus.

21. tangled
adj. untidy, knotted, and confused; involved especially in conflict
entangled, twisted, intertwined

Since then, over 100 tons of fossils, including 1.5 million tons from vertebrates and 2.5 million
tons from invertebrates, have been recovered, often in densely concentrated tangled masses.

22. consistency
n. the state of always keeping to the same principles or course of action; the degree of
firmness or thickness
agreement, coherence, solidity

The consistency of the ocean floor determines what type of blast the trencher uses.

23. hazardous
adj. very risky; dangerous

perilous, unsafe, precarious

Working with toxic materials is a hazardous occupation.

24. major
adj. great or greater in number, size, extent, value, or importance
primary, principal, critical

Galaxies are the major building blocks of the universe.

25. subtle
adj. not straightforwardly or obviously stated or displayed
delicate, vague, abstruse

The available weather data are generally not detailed enough to allow computers to discern
the subtle atmospheric changes that precede these storms.

26. primeval
adj. of the earliest period in the existence of something
early, prehistoric, primitive

For more than 15 years, astronomers have searched for such primeval galaxies, and many
gave up the task after several surveys of the sky failed to find any.

27. graphic
adj. described or shown vividly and in detail
descriptive, explicit, lifelike

Dr. Dennis McCarthy, the chief of the branch that measures the Earths rotation, expressed the
meaning of a second in another, perhaps more graphic, way.

28. solitary
adj. habitually alone, especially by choice
sole, single, lone

The solitary scientist making important discoveries by himself has been replaced by a
cooperative scientific team.

29. molecule
n. the smallest particle of an element or compound that can exist independently

The molecular theory of matter, which considered all matter to be composed of tiny, indivisible
entities called molecules, was developed.

30. realm
n. a domain, province, or region; a field of interest, study, or activity
territory, area, sphere

The invention of the visible-light microscope late in the sixteenth century introduced a
previously unknown realm of single-celled plants and animals.


1. install
v. to put equipment or machinery in place and to make it ready for use
position, place, settle

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad installed the first air conditioning system for trains in 1931.

2. spawn
1) v. to lay eggs; to give rise to something
2) n. an offspring of someone or something
1) generate, create 2) progeny

One invention often spawns many others.

3. subsequent
adj. happening after or following
ensuing, following, succeeding

Modern architects have ignored the subsequent impact of industrialization on modern life.

4. stiffen cf. stiff
v. to make or become firm
harden, solidify, thicken

Until the George Washington Bridge was built, modern suspension bridges were stiffened with
steel trusses and beams to limit their motion in traffic and wind.

5. borough
n. a division of a large town
town, city, municipality

The commercial center of New York City, the island of Manhattan is joined to the other
boroughs by bridges and tunnels.

6. obligate
v. to force or compel somebody to do something
oblige, bind, compel

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 obligates the government to protect all animal and plant
life threatened with extinction.

7. extinction
n. the dying out of many animal species at more or less the same time
death, loss, destruction

Perhaps the human species was driving others to extinction long before the dawn of history.

8. menace
v. to show an intention to damage or harm someone
threaten, intimidate, frighten

Bald eagles were hunted both for sport and because they were thought to menace livestock.

9. innate
adj. belonging to or existing from birth
inborn, inherent, intrinsic

Scientists are exploring the innate weed-killing powers of living organisms, primarily insects
and microorganisms.

10. key
adj. centrally important
essential, crucial, main

Sociality has several key advantages over solitary behavior.

11. preponderance
n. the state of being greater in amount, number, or something else
supremacy, superiority, predominance

New World butterflies make up the preponderance of examples because they are the most
familiar species.

12. profound
adj. far below the surface; very strongly felt
deep, intense, great

The wrong policy has had a profound impact on Haitis development and has resulted in Haiti
being the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

13. reveal
v. to make a secret known; to disclose something
expose, display, let out

The fossil record reveals that extinctions have occurred throughout the history of Earth.

14. evade
v. to escape or avoid something or someone by trickery or skill
avoid, elude, escape

Many types of fish are continually stalking and evading one another.

15. bloodcurdling
adj. causing a strong chilling fear or horror
horrible, scary, gory

A more bloodcurdling example, especially to human beings and most other species of fish, is
the shark.

16. puzzle over
ph. to make a great effort of the mind in order to find the answer to a question
ponder, contemplate, consider

Doctors and psychologists in the past puzzled over the cause of the disease.

17. skyrocketing
adj. increasing rapidly
soaring, rising

It was just a decade before this that many drug companies found their vitamin sales
skyrocketing.

18. solely
adv. only and not involving anyone or anything else
alone, solitarily, exclusively

Ear acupuncture is involved solely with the ear and its numerous activation points.

19. nervous
adj. relating to the nerves; easily agitated
agitated, anxious, on edge

The nervous system of vertebrates is characterized by a hollow, dorsal nerve cord that ends in
the head region.

20. onslaught
n. a fierce attack; an onset
assault, attack, raid

In the face of this onslaught, living things have evolved a variety of defense mechanisms to
protect their bodies from invasion by other organisms.

21. ratio
n. the number or degree of one class of things in relation to another
proportion

In the experiment, the ratio of helium to hydrogen nuclei remained about the same.

22. cautious
adj. careful to avoid risks
wary, watchful, alert

Workers must be very cautious when dealing with toxic substances.

23. physiological
adj. of or pertaining to physiology

Alternative therapies can work wonders as preventative methods for psychological as well as
psychological problems.

24. aversion
n. a strong dislike
hatred, animosity, hostility

A person suffering from claustrophobia has an aversion to confined spaces.

25. outrage
v. to insult, shock, or anger someone greatly
enrage, infuriate, offend

The patient survived, but the incident outraged the religious sensitivities of the times, and no
further experiments were tried.

26. overlap
v. to partly cover another object
overlie, overlay

One reason that there is much less emphasis on whether a person is considered to be right-
or left-brained is that there is such an overlap in these areas.

27. odor
n. a distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one
smell, scent, stink

Each ant nest has its own odor as a result of its location, history, and local food supply.

28. petroleum
n. a naturally occurring oil consisting of a dark and thick liquid mixture of hydrocarbons

Pipelines transport huge quantities of natural gas and liquid petroleum products.

29. wholesome
adj. good for the body or likely to produce good health
healthy, nutritious, beneficial

Whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables are wholesome foods.

30. murky
adj. dark and unpleasant
gloomy, dim, overcast

Its difficult for scuba divers to see when the water is murky.


1. record
v. to set something down in some permanent form
write down, register, document

By 1820, it was a city of more than 10,000 people, and, by 1880, it had recorded a population
of over one million.

2. seize
v. to take or grab suddenly, eagerly, or forcibly
grasp, grab, capture

Many West Africans were seized and shipped unwillingly to the New World as slaves.

3. concrete
adj. definite or positive, as opposed to vague or general
actual, tangible, specific

A good writer supports his or her generalizations with concrete examples.

4. provisional
adj. under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon
temporary, interim, conditional

On February 7, the seven states adopted a provisional constitution for the Confederate States
of America.

5. traverse
v. to go across or through something
cross, crisscross, intersect

The ships could traverse great distances and bring American and other Allied fighting forces
to face the Axis powers.

6. boost
v. to improve or encourage something or someone
lift, raise, encourage

Throughout the wilderness, bands provided entertainment and boosted morale.

7. employ
1) v. to use a particular object or method
2) v. to give work, usually paid, to someone
1) utilize, apply 2) hire, recruit

The earliest way of keeping a count was by some simple tally method, employing the principle
of one-to-one correspondence.

8. expose
v. to remove the cover from something or to allow this to be the case
uncover, reveal, unveil

The woolly mammoth and other mammals were periodically exposed in the tundra of Siberia.

9. favored cf. favor
adj. enjoying favor or preferential treatment
preferred, selected, favorite

If such hunters first competed with the larger predators and then replaced them, they may have
allowed more young to survive each year, gradually increasing the populations of favored
species.

10. glaze
v. to make something shiny; to cover plates or cups with a thin liquid
polish, coat, enamel

Kilns were also used for glazing pottery when two firings were needed.

11. indispensable
adj. absolutely necessary; essential
requisite, vital, crucial

From the very beginning, music was regarded as an indispensable accompaniment that people
simply needed to listen to.

12. legacy
n. an amount of property or money left in a will
heritage, bequest, inheritance

The empire did not last long, but its legacy was far reaching.

13. inscribe
v. to write or engrave words on something, often as a lasting record
engrave, etch

Many other tablets were inscribed in another language that was not previously unknown and
thus could not be translated.

14. majestic
adj. having or showing majesty; grand in manner
magnificent, imperial, grand

This high land ground is majestic but not forbidding.

15. conjecture
v. to form an opinion about something even without much information on it
guess, suppose, estimate

It is conjectured that the Anasazi abandoned their settlements because of drought.

16. disguise
1) v. to change appearance in order to escape recognition
2) n. a disguised state
1) mask, deceive 2) camouflage, coverup

Contrary to folk songs, popular songs origins cannot be disguised, and therefore they belong
primarily to the composer and not to a community.

17. excursion
n. a short trip, usually one made for pleasure
journey, expedition, jaunt

The art societys activities also included organized sketching excursions along the Hudson
River, where artists painted landscapes of the breathtaking scenery there.

18. outstanding
adj. very great or clear; extremely good

distinguished, remarkable, excellent

Mark Twain became the countrys most outstanding realist author.

19. epoch
n. a major division or period of history, or of a persons life
era, age, period

The year 1850 may be considered the beginning of a new epoch in American art.

20. status
n. a rank or position in relation to others within society or an organization
standing, position, level

By the outbreak of the revolution in 1778, the status of the artists had already undergone
changes.

21. execute
v. to perform or carry out something
perform, fulfill, accomplish

Once again, an original portrait became a luxury that was commissioned by the wealthy and
executed by the professional.

22. flatter
v. to praise someone excessively or insincerely
compliment, butter up, fawn

While the nickname was not intended to be flattering, it was hardly inappropriate in his case,
so he was not offended by it.

23. forefront
n. the very front; the most prominent or active position
vanguard, head

The Enlightenment was a period of time in Europe in which people put human reason at the
forefront of thought.

24. dub
v. to give a name, especially a nickname, to someone
call, name, entitle

Over time, the style of the intermezzo caught on and was put on separately, eventually being
dubbed the opera buffa.

25. exponent
n. a person who supports an idea, theory, or something else and persuades others that it is
good
proponent, advocate, supporter

France produced a number of outstanding exponents of the Art Nouveau style, so many artists
moved there to attempt to learn from them.

26. extol
v. to praise something very much
praise, celebrate, glorify

In the United States as well as in Great Britain, reformers extolled the virtues of handcrafted
objects, thereby driving up their prices.

27. mimic
v. to imitate in a way that is meant to be amusing
copy, imitate, mirror

The tree seemed to mimic the Old Testament prophet Joshua waving people, with upraised
arms, on toward the Promised Land.

28. intuitive
adj. attained by using feelings rather than by considering facts
instinctive, insightful

The conversers tone can reflect intuitive sympathy or antipathy, lack of interest, fatigue,
anxiety, or even excitement.

29. caustic
adj. critical in a bitter or sarcastic way
biting, harsh, scathing

Caustic remarks can offend people, which is why people need to be careful of what they say in
the presence of others.

30. skeptical
adj. having doubts that a claim or statement is true or that something will happen
doubtful, dubious, suspicious

They were skeptical about the plan; a railroad built through so challenging and thinly settled
a stretch of desert, mountain, and semiarid plain could not make a profit.


1. stem from
ph. to arise or originate from
derive from, come from

The impressive gain in output stemmed primarily from the way in which workers made the
goods.

2. commerce
n. the buying and selling of commodities and services
trade, business, merchandising

With the growth of international commerce, the economies of the world have become more
interdependent.

3. savage
adj. untamed or undomesticated; cruel
wild, barbaric, brutal

The petroleum industry suffered from savage competition, and, in the 1870s, many oil
industries failed.

4. sleek
adj. smooth, soft, and shiny
glossy, satiny, slick

Pan Am named the airplanes after the swift, sleek clipper ships that once sailed the worlds
oceans during the nineteenth century.

5. recession
n. a period of reduced trade and business activity
depression, downturn, slump

During a depression, economic conditions are far worse than they are during a recession,
which also lasts for a shorter period of time than a depression.

6. tranquil
adj. serenely quiet or peaceful; undisturbed
serene, calm, placid

Manufactured in the tranquil New England town of Concord, the famous Concord Coach came
to symbolize the Wild West.

7. stock
n. the total shares issued by a particular company
shares, funds, assets

Corporations often raise funds by the sale of stock.

8. verge cf. on the verge of
n. a limit, boundary, or border
margin, edge, brim

Unfortunately, by the late 1930s, the whooping crane was on the verge of extinction and
required protection in order to survive.

9. denounce
v. to inform against or to accuse someone publicly

blame, condemn, criticize

Knight and Viner denounced economic imperialism, which viewed all social forces as having
an economic explanation.

10. era
n. a distinct period in history marked by an important event
epoch, time, age

In every era, the lure of the city included a major psychological element for country people as
it drew them to urban centers by the thousands.

11. exceed
v. to be more than a particular number or amount
excel, surpass, transcend

In 1872, only two daily newspapers could claim a circulation of over 100,000, but, by 1892,
seven more newspapers exceeded that figure.

12. forward-looking
adj. planning for and thinking about the future in a positive way
going ahead, progressive

Ice was used in hotels, taverns, hospitals, and by some forward-looking city dealers in fresh
meat, fresh fish, and butter.

13. functional
adj. designed for efficiency rather than decorativeness
practical, useful, effective

Only New York possesses an easy-access functional connection to the vast Midwestern
hinterland.

14. burdensome
adj. difficult to carry, support, or tolerate
cumbersome, troublesome, bothersome

At the same time, war taxes had to be reduced to less burdensome levels.

15. inadequate
adj. not sufficient or adequate
deficient, insufficient, incomplete

In the 1950s and 1960s, the baby boom hit an antiquated and inadequate school system.

16. intensive
adj. requiring considerable amounts of effort within a relatively short period
concentrated, focused

Even in this current era of large-scale, intensive research and development, the
interrelationships between companies and universities are frequently misunderstood.

17. tout
v. to try to persuade people that something is important by praising it
push, promote, talk up

The Freudians touted the impact of the personal subconsciousness on behavior, and the
behaviorists emphasized external punishments and rewards.

18. congestion
n. an excessive or abnormal accumulation
overcrowding, jam

The confusion and congestion of individual citizens looking for their letters was itself enough
to discourage use of the mail.

19. secession cf. secede
n. the act of an area or group becoming independent from the country or larger group that it
belongs to
separation, breaking

The war led to the Souths secession from the Union.

20. position
n. a place where someone or something is
stance, posture, job

Mary Goddard is considered to be the first woman to hold a federal position.

21. prevalent
adj. common at a particular time, in a particular place, or among a particular group
prevailing, common, widespread

The movie represents the idealism prevalent in America in the early twentieth century.

22. supervision cf. supervise
n. the management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group
superintendence, oversight

The Human Genome Project, surprisingly, is under the supervision of the Department of
Energy.

23. symbolize
v. to be a symbol of something; to stand for something
denote, exemplify, typify

An image on a national flag can symbolize political ideals that would otherwise take many
words to explain.

24. revise
v. to change something because of new information or ideas
amend, modify, alter

Lawmakers simply revised the vetoed bill and passed it again, daring the president to veto it
despite its popular support.

25. curb
v. to control or limit something in order to prevent it from having a harmful effect
check, restrain, control

The government hopes to curb tax fraud, so it is simplifying the process of filing taxes to make
it less confusing.

26. authorize
v. to give someone the power or right to do something
empower, entitle, license

The National Labor Relations Board is authorized to investigate allegations of unfair labor
practices on the part of either employers or employees.

27. essential
adj. extremely important and necessary; relating to the basic
indispensable, necessary, fundamental

Although there are several variations on the exact format that worksheets can take, they are all
similar in their essential aspects.

28. encounter
v. to meet someone or something, especially unexpectedly
come upon, run into

The memory of a past encounter with a snake would make the impression of the snake much
stronger.

29. illegible
adj. difficult or impossible to read
unreadable, indecipherable

Illegible handwriting does not indicate a weakness of character as even a quick glance at the
penmanship of George Washington reveals.

30. expertise
n. special skill or knowledge in a particular subject
know-how, knowledge

A new energy policy should be developed and guided by people with apolitical science and
technology expertise.


1. optical
adj. relating to sight or to what one sees; connected with the relationship between light and
sight
ocular, visual, optic

The new X-ray microscopes considerably improve on the resolution provided by optical
microscopes.

2. panel
n. a rectangular board forming a section
board, pane

The instrument panel of a light airplane has at least a dozen instruments the pilot must watch.

3. perseverance
n. a continued effort to achieve something despite setbacks
persistence, patience, endurance

The researchers discovery was based on over thirty years of perseverance and sweat.

4. self-consistent
adj. not self-contradictory
self-evident, self-explaining

Although the phlogiston theory was self-consistent, it was awkward because it required that
imaginative, even mysterious, properties be ascribed to phlogiston.

5. scarce
adj. less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable
scant, rare, lacking

The scarce fossils of the Proterozoic, mostly single-celled bacteria, provide little evidence for
glaciation.

6. assure
v. to state positively and confidently; to guarantee
ensure, assert

Nesting material should be added in sufficient amounts to avoid both extreme temperature
situations and to assure that the eggs have a soft, secure place to rest.

7. concede
v. to acknowledge as true, just, or proper
admit, accept, acknowledge

Darwin himself conceded that the missing fossil record could be used as an argument against
the validity of his theory.

8. principal
adj. first in rank or importance
chief, primary, important

Darwin was an amazing man and was the principal founder of evolutionary biology.

9. puncture
v. to make a small hole in something
perforate, pierce, stab

The external surfaces of plants often carry spiky hairs known as trichomes, which either
prevent feeling by insects or may even puncture and kill insect larvae.

10. reproductive
adj. producing new life or offspring
generative, procreative

These fish have not had a chance to mature long enough to become reproductive.

11. repertoire
n. the list of things that a performer is ready to perform
repertory, stockpile, collection

Plovers have an effective repertoire of tricks for distracting potential nest predators from their
exposed and defenseless eggs.

12. deft
adj. skillful and quick
dexterous, handy

As a rule, large-billed crossbills are better at seeking seeds from large cones while smallbilled crossbills are more deft at removing the seeds from small, thin-scaled cones.

13. squirt
v. to shoot a liquid or something else out in a narrow jet
spout, gush, jet

When the sea cucumber is attacked, it squirts all its internal organs into the water.

14. gear
v. to adjust to a particular situation in order to bring about satisfactory results
adjust, fit, tailor

A consequence of right-hand dominance is that most common consumer products are geared to
right-handers only.

15. free
v. to allow someone to move without restriction
release, emancipate, liberate

The increasing water pressure under the glacier might lift it off its bed, overcoming the friction
between ice and rock, thus freeing the glacier.

16. hazy
adj. not clear or exact
foggy, faint, vague

When it comes to predicting an earthquake, it is a very hazy area.

17. nutrient
n. a chemical or food that provides what is needed for life and growth
nourishment

Since the dam was built, the sediments, rich with nutrients, are fewer, and the fish are also
fewer.

18. residue
n. what remains of something or is left over

remainder, remains, rest

The water can be drawn off and evaporated, leaving a residue of clay, which can be weighed.

19. sag
v. to bend, sink, or hang down, especially in the middle
droop, dip, drop

Each piece of clay can stand only a certain amount of heat without losing its shape through
sagging or melting.

20. segment
n. a part of something that is different from the whole
section, portion, fragment

The cable ship will move on to repeat the process and lay another segment of cable.

21. segregate
v. to set apart or to isolate
divide, separate, discriminate

The one riddle was that in the Western United States, two kinds of ejecta quartz and melted
rock are not intermingled but are segregated; the quartz is layered just above the melted
rock.

22. convoluted
adj. coiled and twisted
curled, entwined, coiled

The convoluted folds of the Earths surface and its fractured geological structure tend to
absorb the seismic energy of an earthquake.

23. worth (of)
adj. equal in value to something specified; deserving of
valuable, qualified, meriting

Floods cause billions of dollars worth of property damage annually.

24. spot
1) v. to search for; to mark with spots
2) n. a place; a small mark or stain
1) detect, identify 2) site, stain

The geographical center of the North American continent is a spot near Balta, North Dakota.

25. adjacent
adj. lying beside or next to something
adjoining, bordering, touching

Meteorology studies the currents of free air that are not adjacent to the Earths surface but
which are higher up in the atmosphere.

26. retain
v. to keep or continue to have something
hold, preserve, save

On the moon, there is no air because the moons gravitational field is too weak to retain an
atmosphere.

27. faint
adj. difficult to see, hear, or smell
pale, dim, faded

Astronomers use photography and sighting telescopes to study the motions of all of the bright
stars and many of the faint ones.

28. glimpse
v. to see something or someone momentarily
spot, glance, peek

This cometary train, glistening like a string of pearls, had been first glimpsed only a few
months before its fateful impact with Jupiter.

29. mutate
v. to change and develop a new form
modify, alter, transform

The radioactive rays are especially dangerous to humans because they increase the risk of
cancer and can negatively alter and mutate DNA.

30. observation
n. the act of noticing or watching
watching, viewing, notice

The scientist plans experiments, performs calculations, and makes observations to test
hypotheses.


1. folly
n. a foolish action, practice, or idea
idiocy, stupidity, absurdity

However, the artists achievements were mocked by the artistic elite of Paris as expensive and
ugly follies.

2. regardless of
ph. in spite of; without regard for
despite, notwithstanding, heedless of

Potters found it convenient to locate their workshops near their source of clay, regardless of
their relation to the center of the settlements.

3. renovation
n. the act of improving by renewing and restoring
remodeling, reengineering, upgrade

The renovation of the building will take longer than what had been previously estimated.

4. spacious
adj. having ample room or space; extending over a large area
wide, capacious, extensive

By the opening decades of the twentieth century, spacious buildings finally transcended the
light confinement of row house building lots.

5. centripetal
adj. acting or moving toward the center of a circle; tending to unify
centralized, unifying

Social life is thus centripetal; that is, it is focused around the community center, the village.

6. compete
v. to strive to outdo another for acknowledgment, a prize, supremacy, or profit
contend, vie

As the populations expanded, they may have competed with other game species for the same
environmental niche.

7. periodic
adj. happening at intervals, especially regular ones
periodical, regular, cyclical

This periodic extinction might be due to the intersection of the Earths orbit with a cloud of
comets.

8. perch
v. to sit or rest on an elevated place or position
roost, rest, sit

In Alaska, where eagles perched on fish traps and scared away the salmon, hunters killed more
than 100,000 eagles between 1917 and 1952.

9. conversion
n. an act or process of changing something into a different state or form
alteration, metamorphosis, transformation

At least 5,000 years ago, in Europe, deforestation and the conversion of wildlands to pasture
began.

10. jolting
adj. moving suddenly and roughly; giving someone a sudden shock
jerking, shaking, shocking

The high rate of species extinctions in these environments is jolting.

11. magnitude
n. the great size or importance of something
size, enormousness, greatness

However, nothing has ever equaled the magnitude and speed with which the human species is
altering the physical and chemical world and demolishing the environment.

12. perish
v. to die; to be destroyed or ruined
lose life, expire

When a species can no longer adapt to a changed environment, it may perish.

13. poultry
n. birds such as chickens and ducks that are kept on farms in order to produce eggs and meat
domestic fowl

Ducks are less susceptible to infection than other types of poultry.

14. choke
v. to prevent or be prevented from breathing by an obstruction in the throat
suffocate, smother, stifle

Oil and the pollutants it causes are choking the life from the planet.

15. combustion
n. the act or process of burning
burning, flaming

Oil was in the depths of the planet for millions of years before man found a use for it in the
internal combustion engine.

16. tempting cf. temptation
adj. attractive; inviting
seductive, enticing, alluring

Many people find chocolate tempting, which accounts for the reason why the chocolate
industry is so profitable.

17. when it comes to
ph. regarding; with regard to
in relation to, as for, as to

When it comes to our vision, all of the components of the eye are important.

18. impulse
n. a sudden push forward; a force producing sudden movement forward
boots, urge, impetus, stimulus

The cardiac muscle will continue to pump blood without any impulses from the brain or ANS.

19. in retrospect
ph. in looking back on past events
in hindsight

In retrospect, vitamin and mineral therapies were much less effective when applied to healthcrisis conditions.

20. infection
n. the act or process of causing or getting a disease
contagion, communication

His work was stimulated by the wartime need to find a cure for the fungus infections that
afflicted many military personnel.

21. challenging
adj. offering a challenge; testing ones ability, endurance, or something else
defying, provoking, demanding

Still, the brain is a great unknown in myriad ways and remains one of the most challenging
and fascinating areas in the medical field.

22. bolster
v. to make something stronger or to hold something up
support, reinforce, buttress

Ki is fundamental in giving human strength and energy as well as bolstering the immune
system.

23. conjunction
n. a combination of different things that have come together
combination, union

Sometimes, herbal medicines are used in conjunction with acupuncture to magnify its effects.

24. cerebral
adj. relating to or affecting the brain; involving complicated ideas
intellectual

In most cases of epilepsy, cerebral electrical activity, also known as brain waves,
demonstrates a characteristically abnormal rhythm.

25. vessel
n. a container, especially for liquids; a ship or large boat
container, holder, ship

An Erlenmeyer flask is a glass vessel used in chemistry labs.

26. neutralize
v. to cancel out the effect of something; to make a substance chemically neutral
negate, counteract, offset

The insects can neutralize or alter the poisonous substances that certain plants produce.

27. nucleus
n. the positively charged tiny central part of an atom; the central part of something
heart, core

Most of the mass of an atom is made up of the nucleus, which contains the neutrons and
protons.

28. alchemist cf. alchemy
n. a scientist who tried to discover how to change ordinary metal into gold, especially in the
Middle Ages

Through the centuries, the dream of medieval alchemists was to discover how to turn lead and
other base metals into gold.

29. renowned
adj. known and admired by a lot of people, especially for a special skill, achievement, or
quality
famous, celebrated, noted

His discovery of the electric light is what he is most renowned for.

30. defective
adj. having a defect or defects
imperfect, flawed, faulty

A defective battery can cause an electrical device to malfunction.


1. settle
1) v. to make or become quiet, calm, or still
2) v. to come to an agreement about something
1) relax, tranquilize 2) decide, fix

The place functioned as a sanctuary where the elders met to plan festivals, perform ritual
dances, settle pueblo affairs, and impart tribal lore to the younger generation.

2. oral
adj. spoken; not written
verbal, vocal, voiced

Most African cultures were based on what is called an oral tradition.

3. peak
n. a sharply pointed mountain top; the highest point
summit, pinnacle, apex

After the peak year of 1957, the birth rate in Canada began to decline.

4. initially
adv. at the beginning
originally, incipiently

The characteristic of jazz is a rhythmic drive that was initially called hot and later
swing.

5. scope
n. the size or range of a subject or topic
extent, range, reach

How long the recession is expected to last will affect the scope of measures the bank might
adopt.

6. tenuous
adj. slight; with little strength or substance
thin, vague, meager

Oil prices were little changed last year although analysts said the stability was tenuous.

7. staunch
adj. dependably loyal
trusty, steadfast, reliable

The staunch members of the ladies group would not give up their fight for the right to vote.

8. oversee
v. to watch to see that work is being properly done
supervise, superintend, direct

Before the deceased oversee and conduct the lives of the people they have left behind, an
elaborate funeral celebration must take place.

9. mercy
n. a willingness to forgive, not to punish
pity, compassion, kindness

If the opponents killed their emissary or refused to surrender, the Mongols showed no mercy.

10. mandate
v. to give authority or power to someone or something; to command to act in a certain way
order, dictate, command

In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act mandated a weekly maximum of 40 hours to begin in
1940.

11. marginal
adj. on or in the margin of a page; small in importance or amount
borderline, insignificant

His tribe was one of the poorer ones, living north of the great Gobi Desert in areas with
marginal resources.

12. meticulously
adv. very carefully
painstakingly, particularly, scrupulously

In the past, things were not recorded as meticulously as they are today.

13. nomad
n. a member of a people without permanent homes and who travel from place to place
migrant, rover

The Aborigines are probably the descendants of these early nomads , who made their way
through southern Asia both by boats across narrow channels and across land bridges.

14. ornament
n. something that decorates or adds grace or beauty to a person or thing
accessory, adornment, decoration

Articles for nearly every household activity and ornament could be bought in Rockingham
ware.

15. engulf
v. to swallow something completely
devour, swallow

Over the next ten years, a fierce civil war engulfed the Mongol tribes until Genghis was
master of them all.

16. eternal
adj. lasting forever and without a beginning or an end
timeless, everlasting, immortal

The essence of the individual is eternal and will continue to exist in this world until a proper
funeral ceremony has been performed to send the person off to the next stage of existence.

17. primary
adj. first or most important
chief, fundamental, principal

In addition to revealing the primary concerns of a society, the content of that societys art may
also reflect the cultures social stratification.

18. prize
1) n. something won in a competition or lottery

2) v. to value or regard highly
1) award, reward 2) treasure, cherish

The Art Nouveau style was widely copied in their time and is highly prized today.

19. foremost
adj. first in place, order, or rank; leading
primary, supreme, prominent

Theodore Dreiser, the foremost naturalist writer, grimly portrayed a dark world in which
human beings were tossed about by forces beyond their understanding or control.

20. stereotype
n. a fixed idea or image that many people have of a particular type of person or thing
type-cast

The minstrel show featured white actors dressed in blackface and playing up racial
stereotypes.

21. identical
adj. exactly similar in every respect; exactly alike
same, twin, indistinguishable

This type of writing describes an imaginary world that is identical to ours up to a certain
point in history.

22. representative
1) adj. being an example of what other members of the same group are like
2) n. a person or thing that represents another or others
1) typical, symbolic 2) deputy, delegate

Most of these leaders were involved in public life as reformers, activists working for womens
right to vote, or authors, and were not representative at all of the great mass of ordinary
women.

23. district
n. a division of territory, as of a country, state, or county
area, quarter, locality

The district in New York City known as Harlem was the capital of the Harlem Renaissance.

24. fabricate
v. to invent or make up a story or evidence; to make something
imagine, fake, manufacture

Dreiser thought that writers should tell the truth about human affairs, not fabricate romance.

25. fade
v. to lose or cause to lose strength, freshness, or color; to become dim
wane, dull, cloud

These writers, who can genuinely be said to have created a genre, the railroad novel, are
now mostly forgotten, their names having faded from memory.

26. feuding
adj. quarreling between families, individuals, or clans; having persistent enmity
conflicting, quarreling, hostile

West Side Story transformed the Montagues and Capulets of Shakespeares play into feuding
street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks.

27. originate
v. to bring or come into being
begin, derive, stem

The term etiquette originated in France in the seventeenth century, but it is also a common
term today in English.

28. regarding
prep. being talked or written about
with regard to, as to, as for

The importance of punctuality can be seen through the myriad proverbs and expressions
almost every culture has regarding time.

29. distinct
1) adj. noticeably different or separate
2) adj. easily seen, heard, or recognized
1) different, separate 2) clear, explicit

Every Pomo basket maker knew how to produce from fifteen to twenty distinct patterns that
could be combined in a number of different ways.

30. lament
v. to feel or express regret or sadness
sorrow, grieve, mourn

Deeply philosophical historians lamented the role that the new frenzy for business was playing
in eroding traditional values.

1. commodity
n. something that is bought and sold, especially a manufactured product or raw material
product, merchandise

Corn, cotton, sugar, and many other goods are bought and sold in commodity markets.

2. convenient
adj. fitting in with ones plans; not causing trouble or difficulty
suitable, handy, nearby

Automatic teller machines provide a convenient means of banking 24 hours a day.

3. monetary
adj. belonging or relating to, or consisting of, money
financial, fiscal, pecuniary

Canada adopted the dollar as its monetary unit in 1878.

4. notion
n. an impression, conception, or understanding
concept, idea, thought

The Depression years of the 1930s brought with them the notion of job sharing to spread
available work around.

5. furnace
n. an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced for smelting metal

The furnace in the factory was turned up as high as possible.

6. prolific
adj. producing plentiful fruit or offspring; producing many works
productive, fertile, fruitful

As early as 1782, the prolific Delaware inventor Oliver Evans had built a highly automated,
labor-saving flour mill driven by water power.

7. routine
n. a regular or unvarying series of actions or a way of doing things
custom, habit, procedure

The mass production of paper bags cost so little that a bag soon became a routine part of
almost every purchase.

8. monotonous
adj. lacking in variety; tediously unchanging
repetitious, tedious

While factory work was less creative and more monotonous, it was also more efficient and
allowed mass production.

9. posture
n. the general way of holding the body; a way of behaving on a particular occasion
position, pose, stance

The government established tariff barriers, provided loans and grants to build a
transcontinental railroad, and assumed a studied posture of nonintervention in private

enterprise.

10. accommodating
adj. helpful; willing to do what another person wants
cooperative, hospitable, kind

The government was nothing if not accommodating.

11. content
v. to satisfy or to make oneself or another satisfied
please, gladden, gratify

Most other cities contented themselves with zoning plans for regulating future growth.

12. distinguish
v. to make out or identify something
discriminate, separate, differentiate

In 1870, the census officially distinguished the nations urban from its rural population
for the first time.

13. justify
v. to prove or show something to be right, just, or reasonable
legitimate, vindicate, rationalize

The slave owners justified slavery by saying it was the natural order of events and that the
Africans place in the world was as slaves.

14. oblige
v. to bind someone morally or legally; to compel
require, force, coerce

Slave owners were obliged to care for the nonproductive Africans, which included the young,
aged, and infirm.

15. outbreak
n. a sudden, usually violent, beginning or occurrence
outburst, rash

In the fifteen years prior to the outbreak of the War of Independence in 1775, more than
200,000 immigrants arrived on North American shores.

16. overwhelming
adj. physically or mentally crushing; intensely powerful
overpowering, formidable, uncontrollable

The new play was so successful that the demand for tickets was overwhelming.

17. pack
v. to stow goods compactly in cases; to put goods into a container
cram, fill, package

Major cities were packed with people basically living on top of each other.

18. sprawling
adj. spreading or extending in an irregular, straggling, or untidy way
spreading, extending, stretching

Los Angeles was a decentralized metropolis, sprawling across the desert landscape over an
area of 400 square miles.

19. counter
v. to oppose, act against, or hit back
contradict, retaliate, frustrate

One method to counter desertification that is being used is the planting of leguminous plants.

20. senator
n. a member of a senate
politician

A person must be at least thirty years old in order to serve as a U.S. senator.

21. temporary
adj. lasting, acting, or used for a limited period of time only
momentary, transient, provisional

The city of Memphis was an important Confederate military center during the Civil War and
served as the temporary state capital in 1862.

22. property
1) n. something which is owned
2) n. a quality, power, or effect that belongs naturally to something
1) possessions, belongings 2) characteristic, trait

Fewer than 25 percent of the 245,000 who took up land under the act obtained final title to the
property.

23. campaign
1) n. an organized series of actions intended to gain support for or build up opposition to a
particular practice or group
2) v. to organize or take part in a campaign
1) operation, drive 2) run, electioneer

Campaigning on television means that, increasingly, our political world contains memorable
pictures rather than memorable words.

24. urge
v. to try very hard to persuade; to suggest strongly
press, push, request

The League of Women Voters urges all citizens to vote.

25. deploy
v. to spread out and position troops to get ready for battle

The general was reluctant to deploy his troops into the enemy-controlled town.

26. backlash
n. a sudden violent reaction to an action or situation
backfire, counteraction, repercussion

Then came the backlash in the 1920s. America was tricked into the war by the British and
French, said many.

27. evidence
1) n. information or something else that gives grounds for belief
2) v. to be evidence of something; to prove

1) proof, ground 2) demonstrate, reveal

Emotional health is evidenced in the voice by free and melodic sounds of the happy, by the
constricted and harsh sounds of the angry, and by the dull and lethargic qualities of the
depressed.

28. concentrate
v. to give full attention and energy to something or someone
focus, center, intensify

Adults sometimes mistake childrens curiosity about everything as a lack of ability to
concentrate.

29. means
n. the instrument or method used to achieve some object
process, manner, way

Increasingly, schools were viewed as the most important means of integrating immigrants into
American society.

30. compulsory
adj. required by the rules or law
obligatory, mandatory

The use of seatbelts is compulsory in many states; failure to wear them may result in fines.


1. outline
1) n. a line that marks the outer edge of an object
2) v. to give a brief description of something
1) contour, silhouette 2) delineate, draft

Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow wrote a long paper outlining the conditions needed to
amplify stimulated emission of visible light waves.

2. interchangeable
adj. capable of being put or used in place of something else
equivalent, identical

Potash and soda are not interchangeable for all purposes, but for glass- or soap-making,
either will do.

3. mutual
adj. having or based on the same relationship of one towards the other
reciprocal, interactive

It seems that all allosaurs worked together for mutual protection and nourishment.

4. latent
adj. present or existing in an undeveloped or hidden form
dormant, potential, undeveloped

The primary source of energy for tropical cyclones is the latent heat released when water
vapor condenses.

5. ooze
v. to flow or leak out gently or slowly
leak, exude, secrete

Precipitation such as rain and water can enter directly into the pool of nuclear waste, mix with
it, and ooze out into the environment.

6. herbivore
n. a plant-eating animal

Any plant species often has many ways to defend itself from herbivores.

7. hostile
adj. expressing enmity, aggression, or angry opposition
antagonistic, inhospitable, unfriendly

The deep-ocean bottom is a hostile environment to humans.

8. crawl
v. to move along the ground slowly; to move along on ones hands and knees
creep, worm, squirm

A three-foot-long octopus can crawl through a hole less than one inch in diameter.

9. intervention
n. an act of intervening, especially in the affairs of other people or countries
interference, interruption

Ordinary light is emitted spontaneously when atoms or molecules get rid of excess energy by
themselves without any outside intervention.

10. nocturnal
adj. happening or active at night
nightly

Most mice are nocturnal, but the African grass mouse is active during daylight hours.

11. abyss
n. a deep and bottomless hole
abysm, bottomless gulf

In the dark abyss of the deep sea, the only light is produced by luminescent fish.

12. palatable
adj. having a pleasant taste
appetizing, tasty, savory

Menhaden are a small fish belonging to the haddock family, but they are not very palatable to
humans.

13. fine-tuning
n. slight adjustments to something to obtain optimum performance

In the world of birds, bill design is a prime example of evolutionary fine-tuning.

14. grumble
v. to complain in a bad-tempered way
complain, gripe, mutter

His letter the following year grumbled that his livestock was all dead.

15. sole
adj. being the only one
singular, unique, lone

Pheromones are the predominant medium of communication among insects but are rarely the
sole method.

16. span
v. to form an arch or bridge over; to go from one end to the other end of
bridge, cross, stretch over

The plovers most famous stratagem is the broken-wing display, which is actually a continuum
of injury-mimicking behavior spanning the range from slight disability to near-complete
helplessness.

17. invade
v. to attack or overrun; to enter a country by force with an army
encroach, overrun, raid

Molten material wells out of the Earths interior to invade the surface layers or to flow onto
the surface itself.

18. interval
n. a period of time between two events
interim, intermission, pause

However, at intervals of 10 to 100 years, these glaciers move forward up to 100 times faster
than usual.

19. intricate
adj. full of complicated, interrelating, or tangled details or parts
complex, tangled, involved

The geyser is linked by an intricate plumbing network to some extremely hot rocks.

20. intrusion
n. an act or process of intruding, especially on someone elses property
encroachment, interruption

Mans intrusion into the deltas sometimes upsets the balance of nature.

21. margin
n. the blank space around a page of writing or print
boundary, edge, rim

New oceanic crust is formed along one or more margins of each plate by material issuing from
deeper layers of the Earths crust.

22. modify
v. to change the form or quality of something, usually only slightly
revise, amend, adjust

Rain dissolves, transports, and precipitates many chemical compounds and is constantly
modifying the face of the Earth.

23. deduction
n. a process of reasoning using general rules or principles to form a judgment
conclusion, reasoning

Strictly speaking, the true natural science is in the set of facts, not the deductions.

24. damp
adj. slightly wet
moist, humid, dank

Florida has a humid climate. Summers there are particularly hot and damp.

25. recede
v. to go or move back or backward
retreat, withdraw, go back

At the end of the Ice Age, the glaciers began to recede.

26. rudimentary
adj. of or relating to basic facts or principles
basic, fundamental, elementary

In the early nineteenth century, the knowledge of the physics of heat, which was essential to
the science of refrigeration, was rudimentary.

27. altitude
n. the height, especially above sea level, of a mountain, aircraft, or something else
elevation, height, level

At higher altitudes, the particle cools, and the moisture it carries is precipitated as rain or
snow.

28. revolve
v. to move or turn, or to make something move or turn, in a circle
turn, rotate, spin

All the planets in the solar system except Mercury and Venus have natural satellites, which are
objects that around revolve planets.

29. devour
v. to eat up something greedily
gulp, swallow, gorge

Black holes are areas of massive gravitational energy that devour all things they pass,
including stars.

30. dominate
v. to have command or influence over someone or something
control, govern, reign

The light from the nearby Virgo Galaxy set out when reptiles still dominated the animal world.


1. presumably
adv. supposedly; probably
supposedly, likely, seemingly

The rural pottery establishment on the island of Thasos produced many types of pottery and
roof tiles, too, presumably to meet local demand.

2. picturesque
adj. charming to look at, especially if it is rather quaint
scenic, pictorial, attractive

With its charming shops and restaurants, Old Town is the most picturesque section of
Albuquerque.

3. predecessor
n. the person who formerly held a job or position now held by someone else; something
formerly used
forerunner, antecedent, forebear

Eighteenth-century houses showed great interior improvements over their predecessors.

4. recommendation
n. an official suggestion about the best thing to do
advice, counsel, guidance

The plan impressed the university officials, and, in time, many of its recommendations were
implemented.

5. convivial
adj. pleasantly merry and friendly
gala, jolly, sociable

American hotels made other national conventions not only possible but also pleasant and
convivial.

6. pursue
v. to follow someone or something in order to overtake
chase, follow, trace

Few predators fail to pursue such obviously vulnerable prey.

7. raid
v. to attack on a person, place, or something else to do damage
attack, invade

Even the few protected parts in Haiti are raided for their prized trees.

8. wary
adj. looking out for danger; careful
circumspect, vigilant, cautious

You must be wary when buying a used car; be sure the engine is in good condition.

9. exposure cf. expose
n. the act of exposing or the state of being exposed
disclosure, uncovering, baring

Human populations near the equator all have dark skin over many generations because of
exposure to the fierce rays of the sun.

10. generate
v. to produce or create something
create, manufacture, breed

It is hoped that the errors generated by imperfect and incomplete taxonomy will be minimized.

11. pungent
adj. sharp and strong; cleverly caustic or biting
bitter, biting, tart

Certain spices give foods a pungent taste.

12. render
v. to cause to be or become
make, become

Rapid ecological change may render an environment hostile to a species.

13. inhabit
v. to live in or occupy a place
dwell in, reside in, live in

The fact that half of the known species are thought to inhabit the worlds rainforests does not
seem surprising.

14. genesis
n. an origin or generation
origin, beginning, generation

Lifes transition from the sea to the land was perhaps as much of an evolutionary challenge as
was the genesis of life.

15. crunch
n. the moment of decision or crisis
crisis, critical point, decision time

Hybrid cars have been around in one form or another since the early seventies during the oil
crunch in the U.S.

16. impair
v. to damage or weaken something, especially in terms of its quality or strength
damage, injure, harm

Alcohol can impair ones ability to drive.

17. potent
adj. having a very powerful effect or influence
powerful, mighty, effective

Morphine, a form of synthetic heroin, is a potent painkiller.

18. curative
adj. able to or tending to cure
remedial, restorative, therapeutic

Some people believe that the crystals of certain minerals have curative powers.

19. density cf. dense
n. the degree to which an area is filled with people or things
solidness, thickness

Our bone and muscle structures as well as their density are predetermined by our genes.

20. elongate
v. to lengthen or stretch something out
extend, prolong, lengthen

The actual eyeball is oblong and elongated length-wise from the front to the rear.

21. enthusiastic
adj. showing lively interest; extremely keen
passionate, eager, fervent

Some experts were enthusiastic about the medicine while others said it was only effective for a
few months.

22. circulatory cf. circulate
adj. relating to the circulation of the blood or something else

Herbs have a more direct influence than acupuncture on the bodys physical systems, such as
the circulatory system.

23. concomitant (with)
adj. accompanying because of or as a result of something else
concurrent, coincidental, accompanying

Concomitant with the increasing use of donor eggs, the proportion of women with multiple
births over age 40 has increased as well.

24. crux
n. the most important part of a problem, question, argument, or something else
core, gist, pivot

The herbalists attempt to treat the source of the health problem rather than simply get rid of
the symptoms, which is something that many argue is the flawed crux of Western medicinal
techniques.

25. resistant
adj. able to resist something; not affected by something
defiant, unsubmissive, impervious

Ceramics can be harder, lighter, and more resistant to heat than metals.

26. impurity
n. something that renders something else impure
contaminant, pollutant

Emeralds get their beautiful green color from titanium and chromium impurities in the stone.

27. modulate
v. to vary the strength or nature of something; to change or alter
tune, adjust, regulate

The organisms ability to modulate a chemical signal is limited when compared with
communication by visual or acoustic means.

28. alloy
n. a material consisting of a mixture of two or more metals
composite, compound, mixture

Despite their light weight, aluminum alloys can be very strong.

29. tolerate
v. to bear or endure someone or something
bear, endure, stand

Another strategy of large desert animals is to tolerate the loss of body water to a point that
would be fatal for non-adapted animals.

30. expel
v. to drive or force out or away
eject, dislodge, remove

A sponge feeds itself by drawing water through tiny pores on its surface, filtering out food
particles, and then expelling the water through larger vents.


1. vanish
v. to become invisible or unnoticeable
disappear, dissipate, evaporate

As the frontier vanished, great factories and vast agricultural holdings marked the land.

2. longing cf. long for
n. an intense desire or yearning
craving, desire, wish

Tulip bulbs were sent from Europe to the United States to satisfy the nostalgic longings of
homesick English and Dutch settlers.

3. meteoric cf. meteor
adj. belonging or relating to meteors; very rapid
fleeting, swift

A number of circumstances contributed to the meteoric rise of Los Angeles.

4. novel
adj. not like anything known before
new, unusual, creative

The engine that became standard on western steamboats was a different and novel design.

5. obsolete
adj. no longer in use or in practice

out of date, outmoded, old-fashioned

Until refrigerators made it obsolete, the ice industry supplied city dwellers with blocks of ice.

6. coerce
v. to force or compel someone to do something by using threats
force, fore, oblige, make

As for Italians, the Russians only met the reluctant few whom Hitler managed to coerce for his
Russian campaign.

7. conquer
v. to gain possession or dominion over a territory by force
defeat, subdue, vanquish

With his horse-riding, arrow-shooting hordes, he conquered a territory greater than any other
leader either before or after him.

8. consume
v. to use up time, money, goods or something else
exhaust, deplete, expend

It is clear that humans began to carry their food to central places, called home bases, where it
was shared and consumed.

9. dispute
n. an argument or a disagreement between two people or groups
debate, discussion, controversy

The village chief dealt with land disputes and religious affairs.

10. plateau
n. an extensive area of relatively flat high land that is usually bounded by steep sides
mesa, tableland, highland

Mesa Verde is located in the high plateau lands near Four Corners, where Colorado, Utah,
New Mexico, and Arizona come together.

11. pore
n. one of the similar small holes in the surface of a plant or a rock
opening, orifice, hole

Fossils are frequently very dense because the pores and other spaces in the bones have become
filed with minerals taken up from the surrounding sediments.

12. sacred
adj. religious in nature or use
holy, divine, sainted

The sacred objects of the family were under the control of the oldest female.

13. staple
1) n. an economically important product
2) n. a major constituent of a particular communitys diet
1) merchandise, provision 2) necessity, basic

Though others were sometimes used, these four materials were the staples of their finest
basketry.

14. story
n. any of the levels on which a building is built
floor, level, tier

The largest Pueblo buildings had five stories and more than 800 rooms.

15. exalted
adj. raised or elevated, as in rank or character; noble or elevated
lofty, noble, honored

The artisans products, primarily silver plates and bowls, reflected their exalted status and
testified to their customers prominence.

16. foe
n. a person who feels enmity or hatred toward another
enemy, adversary, opponent

Humans organize their societies in such a way to obtain a measure of security from a harsh
and hazardous environment made up of human foes, famine, and plagues.

17. realization
1) n. an awareness of something
2) n. making something real
1) recognization, comprehension 2) actualization

Satire jars us out of complacence into a pleasantly shocked realization that many of the values
we unquestioningly accept are false.

18. secure
v. to make free from danger or risk

protect, guard, defend

In addition to securing an exhibition space in the Library Society Building in lower
Manhattan, the society founded a small school for the instruction of watercolor painting.

19. ensconce
v. to hide safely
hide, conceal, cache

The key was ensconced under the welcome mat.

20. marked
adj. obvious or noticeable
conspicuous, pronounced, evident

Citizens of prosperous, essentially middle-class, republics have always shown a marked taste
for portraiture.

21. medium
n. something by or through which an effect is produced
means, method, mode

Implicit in it is an aesthetic principle as well that the medium has certain qualities of beauty
and expressiveness.

22. monopolize
v. to have a monopoly or exclusive control of trade in a commodity or service
control, dominate

The older painters practiced in a mode that was often self-taught and monopolized by the
subject matter of the landscape.

23. optimistic
adj. disposed to take a favorable view of events or conditions
positive, hopeful, idealistic

The ending of the poem is optimistic, making it very different from the dark, pessimistic
outcome of Smiths.

24. tantrum
n. an outburst of childish or petulant bad temper
blowup, rage, fury

Spoiled children are apt to have tantrums when they do not get their way.

25. flush
v. to blush or to make someone blush or go red; to animate
redden, excite, encourage

The art movement known as Regionalism began in the United States when the Depression
occurred, but it really flushed before the 1930s.

26. improvisation
n. the creative activity of immediate musical composition
extemporization, ad-libbing

Opera seria eschewed imagination and improvisation in favor of familiar storylines, most
often Greek.

27. strict
adj. demanding obedience or the close observance of rules
austere, rigid, rigorous

Many parents place strict limits on the kinds of shows their children may see and the number
of hours allowed for television viewing.

28. utterance
n. the act of speaking
statement, expression

The sounds that an infant notices might be the words that often occur at the ends of utterances.

29. fidelity
n. faithfulness; devotion
loyalty, dedication

Most important was that the artists had all maintained, with a certain fidelity, a manner of
technique and composition consistent with those of Americas first popular landscape artist.

30. irrelevant cf. relevant
adj. not connected with the subject at hand; beside the point
unrelated, impertinent, inappropriate

Especially because of writers who place so much importance on sound itself, the meanings of
the words become all but irrelevant.


1. durable
adj. lasting a long time without breaking
lasting, persistent, enduring

Economists define durable goods as ones intended to last more than four months.

2. indifferent
adj. a lack of interest, feeling, or reaction toward something or someone
unconcerned, detached, uncaring

Stockholders may be too indifferent to vote in corporate elections, so they let management
vote for them by proxy.

3. expendable cf. expend
adj. not valuable enough to be worth preserving
dispensable, nonessential, unnecessary

Some workers lost their jobs when new technologies made their labor cheap or expendable.

4. insurance
n. an agreement in which one party promises to pay another money in the event of a loss
assurance

A number of insurance companies have their headquarters in Hartford, Connecticut.

5. kinfolk
n. ones relations; the members of ones family

kin, kindred, family

In towns and cities, the nuclear family was more dependent on its immediate neighbors than on
kinfolk.

6. lucrative
adj. affording financial gain
gainful, profitable

Even today, North Atlantic commercial flights remain the most lucrative market in the world.

7. appraise
v. to judge the worth, quality, or condition of someone or something; to find out the value
estimate, evaluate

Jewelers are sometimes asked to appraise jewelry for insurance purposes.

8. out-of-date
adj. out of style or fashion; outmoded
old-fashioned, outdated, obsolete

Subsequent reforms have made the prior notions seem quite out of date.

9. barn
n. a building in which grain or hay is stored or a building for housing animals
stall

Other artisans worked in their homes or barns, relying on the help of family members or
apprentices.

10. collective
adj. belonging to or involving all the members of a group
combined, communal

Expressive leadership is that which emphasizes the collective well-being of a social groups
members.

11. compact
1) adj. firm and dense in form or texture
2) adj. neatly concise
1) dense, condensed 2) succinct, brief

City dwellers also developed other pleasures, which only compact communities made possible.

12. affluent
adj. having more than enough money
rich, wealthy, well-off

Scholarships allow students from less affluent families to attend college.

13. ponderous
adj. slow and awkward because of great size and weight
heavy, massive

These ponderous machines reaped the grain, threshed it, and bagged it, all in one
simultaneous operation.

14. proponent
n. a supporter or advocate of something; someone who argues in favor of a cause

advocate, backer

Proponents of these reforms argued that public ownership would ensure widespread access to
these utilities.

15. deformity
n. an imperfection of the body, especially one that can be seen
abnormality

The offspring of animals may sometimes be born with an injury or physical deformity.

16. reap
v. to cut and gather grain or something else
harvest, acquire, gain

The urban poor reaped few benefits from household improvements.

17. brunt
n. the main force or shock of a blow or attack
onslaught, violence, impact, shock

The Americans bore the brunt of the Pacific fighting during the war.

18. censorship
n. the practice of censoring something
suppression

Rarely could they see such a movie in the country due to censorship by the government.

19. pledge
v. to promise money or something else to someone; to offer something as a guarantee
promise, oath, vow

The Republican Party pledged the enactment of a law granting free homesteads to settlers who
would help in the opening of the West.

20. cozy
1) adj. snugly warm and comfortable
2) adj. marked by friendly intimacy
1) snug, comfortable 2) intimate

Before 1754, Britain and the North American colonies had a cozy relationship, but, after that,
their relationship became strained.

21. outspoken
adj. saying exactly what one thinks; frank
candid, direct, forthright

Roger Williams was the founder of the colony of Rhode Island and an outspoken advocate of
religious and political freedom.

22. penalize cf. penalty
v. to impose a penalty on someone for wrongdoing
punish, handicap, sentence

Recycling is mandatory in most major cities today, and violators may be penalized up to five
hundred dollars.

23. poll
1) n. a political election; a survey of public opinion
2) v. to conduct an opinion poll among people
1) vote, survey 2) sample, interview

A 1990 survey found that over 80 percent of those polled claimed to believe in God.

24. promote
v. to help something to develop or increase
advance, boost, advertise

There is an act that presidents have relied on in the past to promote both the interests of the
United States as well as their own.

25. prospect
n. an expectation of something due or likely to happen
expectation, outlook, anticipation

People in the United States in the nineteenth century were haunted by the prospect that
unprecedented change in the nations economy would bring social chaos.

26. spatial
adj. belonging, referring to, or relating to space

Los Angeles was a product of the auto age; its distinctive spatial organization depended on
widespread private ownership of automobiles.

27. observe
1) v. to notice or become conscious of something
2) v. to obey, follow, or keep a law, custom, or religious rite
1) examine, monitor 2) obey, follow

For a long time, weve been able to observe the effects of fear on the human body but not in
the brain.

28. circumstantial
adj. based on something that appears to be true but is not proven
presumptive, deduced, inferred

Circumstantial evidence is that which is not drawn from the direct observation of a fact.

29. backbone
n. the spinal column; a main support or major sustaining factor
spine, buttress, pillar

By 1771, when entrepreneur Mark Bird established the blast furnace in Pennsylvania, iron
making had become the backbone of American industry.

30. plague
n. any of several epidemic diseases with a high mortality rate
scourge, epidemic, pestilence

The plague then spread by sea trade on ships into the Mediterranean and to the island Sicily,
where it got its first foothold on Europe.


1. ample
adj. more than enough
abundant, plentiful, sufficient

There is ample evidence that water once existed on the surface of Mars and might return in the
future if the planet warms.

2. penetrate
v. to find a way into something; to enter something, especially with difficulty
pierce, puncture, go through

Cleaner water allows sunlight to penetrate to greater depths.

3. preliminary
adj. occurring at the beginning; preparatory
prior, initial, introductory

It takes about four years for a new aircraft model to move from the preliminary design stage to
the full-production stage.

4. gravitation
n. the force of attraction between any two masses
gravity, attraction

Gravitation keeps the moon in orbit around Earth.

5. horizontal
adj. at right angles to vertical
level, flat, plane

More air is involved in those horizontal movements than in vertical movements.

6. induce
v. to persuade, influence, or cause someone to do something; to cause
lead, urge, influence

Scientists hope to attach different chemicals to the tip of the scanning microscope to induce
chemical reactions at precise spots.

7. injection
n. an act of forcing liquid into something
instillation, inoculation, shot

Fuel injection engines employ injectors instead of a carburetor to spray fuel into the
cylinders.

8. trait
n. a particular quality in someones character
characteristic, feature, property

Traits such as hair color and eye color are inherited genetically from ones parents.

9. courtship
n. the courting or wooing of an intended spouse
courting, wooing

Bill clapping is a common part of courtship by storks, and bill snapping is a common threat by
owls.

10. jeopardy
n. the danger of harm, loss, or destruction
hazard, peril, risk

When groups of chimpanzees become fragmented and isolated from each other, their own
genetic makeup is placed in jeopardy.

11. lair
n. a wild animals den
hole, burrow, cave

Dinosaurs had nests or lairs where they laid the eggs.

12. from afar
ph. far off; a long way off
from a distance

To lure their pollinators from afar, orchids use appropriately intriguing shapes, colors, and
scents.

13. depart from
ph. to start doing something different or not planned
diverge, deviate, differ from

Desert mammals depart from the normal mammalian practice of maintaining a constant body
temperature.

14. mature
adj. fully grown or developed
adult, ripened, aged

Its features are striking, as a mature whooping crane is all white and stands five feet tall with
a wingspan of about eight feet.

15. heretofore
adv. before or up to this time; formerly
hitherto, theretofore, thus far

Researchers are confident that the discoveries will provide invaluable clues about this
heretofore mysterious process.

16. pounce
v. to leap or swoop on a victim or prey, especially when trying to capture it
jump, spring, leap

When a tiger spots its prey, it crouches and then pounces.

17. immunity
n. the state of being immune to a disease; the state of being protected from unpleasant things
exemption, invulnerability, nonliability

The human immune system reacts defensively, and immunity is stimulated without illness.

18. rapidity
n. a rapid state or quality; quickness
swiftness, speediness, promptness

The last figure shows the importance of the ocean as the principal reservoir of the hydrosphere
and also the rapidity of water transport on the continents.

19. rigid
adj. completely stiff and inflexible; unwilling to change
firm, hard, stubborn

The hard, rigid plates that form the outermost portion of the Earth are about 100 kilometers
thick.

20. tap
v. to start using a source, supply, or something else
use, utilize

Geothermal energy is a potentially inexhaustible energy source that has been tapped by
humans for centuries but, until recent years, only on a small scale.

21. grind
v. to crush something into small particles or powder between two hard surfaces
pound, pulverize, mill

Because of their hardness, industrial diamonds can be used for cutting, grinding, and drilling.

22. groundwater
n. water which occurs in the rocks beneath the surface of the Earth
underground water, subsurface water

Many communities are dependent on groundwater obtained from wells for their water supply.

23. inaccessible
adj. difficult or impossible to approach, reach, or obtain
unapproachable, unobtainable, unreachable

Until about a century ago, the deep-ocean floor was completely inaccessible.

24. infringe (on)
v. to break or to violate a law or oath
intrude, impinge, trespass

While many anxious parents may welcome this, others are already beginning to wonder if the
GPS revolution is just another way for the government to infringe on its citizens privacy.

25. delta
n. a more-or-less triangular area of sediments deposited at the mouth of a river

The Amazon River has the largest delta in the world, and the Yellow River in China has the
greatest sediment flow, which is very important in delta formation.

26. sturdy
adj. thick and strong-looking
strong, solid, well-built

Because they must be able to break a path through icebound waters, icebreakers have to be
very sturdy boats.

27. instantaneously
adv. in an instant; at a particular instant
immediately, directly, promptly

Communications satellites can transmit data around the world cheaply and instantaneously.

28. phenomenon
n. something that happens or exists in society, science, or nature
event, happening, occurrence

The spectacular aurora light displays that appear in Earths atmosphere around the north and
south magnetic poles were once mysterious phenomena.

29. compile
v. to collect and organize information
put together, collect, gather

Modern computers can quickly compile and analyze a large volume of weather information.

30. vast
adj. extremely great in size, extent, or amount
great, enormous, huge

It is now known that the vast majority of the moons craters were formed by the impact of solid
bodies with the lunar surface.


1. combine
v. to join together
connect, link, unite

Because of the urban heat island effect, several characteristics of urban areas combine to
elevate artificially the ambient temperature.

2. projection
1) n. the process of being projected
2) n. something that protrudes from a surface
1) presentation 2) bulge, protrusion

The hatch dome is a smooth design with no projections to easily attach to.

3. meager
adj. lacking in quality or quantity
scant, sparse, thin

Seattles park development was very limited, and its funding was meager.

4. mural
n. a painting that is painted directly onto a wall
wall painting, fresco

Murals tell narrative stories through visual images.

5. deck
n. a platform extending from one side of a ship to the other and forming a floor or covering
floor

The observation deck at the Empire State Building has been featured prominently in several
movies.

6. unique
adj. being the only one of its kind; unusually good and special
single, only, unequaled

What unusual or unique biological trait led to the remarkable diversification and
unchallenged success of ants for over 50 million years?

7. ultimately
adv. at last; in the end
finally, eventually, in the long run

Other species may become better adapted to an environment, resulting in competition, and,
ultimately, the death of a species.

8. rare
adj. not done, found, or occurring very often
scarce, unusual, uncommon

On the rare occasion when a fine piece of sculpture was desired, Americans turned to foreign
sculptors.

9. ecosystem
n. a community of living things and their relationships to their surroundings

Humans have become experts at destroying the world and the ecosystems in which they live.

10. measure
n. a system of measurement; the process of ascertaining the quantity of something
gauge, scale, estimation

Absent an objective measure, therefore, the range of estimates is wide.

11. equivalent
adj. equal in value, power, or meaning
comparable, corresponding, equal

Studies have shown that it costs the equivalent of about a dollar a gallon to recharge a plug-in
hybrids energy tank.

12. eschew
v. to avoid, keep away from, or abstain from something
evade, escape, avoid

We should accept the responsibility of saving the environment by eschewing non-hybrid cars
for more environmentally friendly plug-in hybrids.

13. eternity
n. time regarded as having no end
perpetuity, infinity, timelessness

The animal may soon be another one lost for eternity to human greed.

14. custodian
n. someone who cares for something, like a public building or ancient monument
caretaker, guardian, watchman

Therefore, both the ocean and the human body have a kind of custodian that maintains their
bacteria levels.

15. debilitate
v. to make someone weak or weaker
weaken, enervate

If bacteria levels increase and get out of control, they can take hold of a system, overrun it,
and become debilitating.

16. flora
n. the wild plants of a particular region, country, or time period
vegetation, greenery, herbage

These plans have been designed to protect the endangered flora and fauna as well.

17. aggravate
v. to make something worse; to exasperate or irritate
exacerbate, worsen, bother

The treatment only aggravated the condition.

18. circulate
v. to move or to cause to move around freely, especially in a fixed route
circle, flow, move around

The heart must beat more forcefully if it is to circulate the same amount of blood.

19. blockage
n. the state of being blocked or prevented; something that is stopping movement in a narrow
place
obstruction, impasse

These pathways might suffer blockage or be disrupted for various reasons.

20. clot
n. a thick, almost solid, mass formed when blood or milk dries
coagulation, lump

This can cause serious problems. A clot, or a lump of blood, can form.

21. compatible
adj. able to associate or coexist agreeably
agreeable, consistent, harmonious

In a transfusion, a patient must receive a blood type that is compatible with his blood.

22. besiege
v. to surround a town or stronghold with an army
lay siege to, blockade, surround

Almost daily, the public is besieged by claims for no-aging diets, new vitamins, and other
wonder foods.

23. intoxication
n. a condition in which certain centers in the brain are affected by toxic substances
poisoning

A sudden increase in caffeine consumption can easily produce caffeine intoxication.

24. chronic
adj. long-lasting, usually of gradual onset, and often difficult to treat
long-lasting, lingering, continuing

More often than not, chronic pain is untreated or undertreated, but it does not have to be this
way.

25. filter
v. to pass something through a filter, often to remove impurities
sieve, purify, refine

Commercial honey is heated and filtered in order to stabilize and clarify it.

26. detonate
v. to explode or to make something explode
explode, burst, blow up

Dynamite is ordinarily detonated with a device called a blasting cap.

27. duplicate
v. to make or be an exact copy or copies of something; to repeat something
copy, reproduce, repeat

In science, the results of an experiment are not generally accepted until they have been
duplicated in other laboratories.

28. amenable
adj. ready to accept someone elses idea, proposal, advice, or guidance
agreeable, receptive, obedient

Glass is amenable to a greater number of heat-forming techniques than most other materials.

29. pupa
n. the inactive stage during which a larva is transformed into a sexually mature adult while
enclosed in a protective case
chrysalis

Eight to eleven days later, an adult moth emerges from the pupa.

30. brilliant
adj. very bright and sparkling; showing outstanding intelligence or talent
shining, radiant, intelligent

Robert Goddard was a brilliant pioneer in the field of rocketry.


1. fragile
adj. easily broken, shattered, or damaged
brittle, feeble, frail

The fibers were short and fragile, but he predicted that spun glass fibers as thin as spider silk
would be flexible and could be woven into fabric.

2. grueling
adj. very difficult and tiring
exhausting, laborious, arduous

The 26-mile-long Boston Marathon is a grueling foot race.

3. fixture cf. fix
n. a permanently fixed piece of furniture or equipment
appliance, fitting, equipment

The icebox became a fixture in most homes and remained so until the mechanized refrigerator
replaced it in the 1920s and 1930s.

4. hollow
adj. containing an empty space within or below; not solid
empty, vacant, void

As they continued this oral tradition, they were able to fill up what was hollow and what was
missing inside of them.

5. intent
n. something which is aimed at or intended; a purpose
intention, goal, object

Despite the intent of the law, speculators often managed to obtain large tracts of land.

6. subterranean
adj. beneath the surface of the Earth
underground

Separate subterranean rooms in three pueblos were set aside for religious ceremonies.

7. be derived from
ph. to have arisen from something; to be traced back to something
stem from, be originated from

The name of the ware was probably derived from its resemblance to English earthenware made
in South Yorkshire.

8. besides
prep. in addition to; apart from something or someone
as well as, additionally, aside from

Besides overhunting, at least three other reasons for the extinction have been suggested.

9. blend
v. to mix different sorts or varieties into one
mix, mingle, combine

The funeral tradition of the Toraja people blends ancient animist beliefs with the Western
influences of Christianity.

10. casual
1) adj. intended for informal situations
2) adj. happening by chance
1) informal 2) accidental, fortuitous

Spoken language is generally more casual than written language.

11. butt
n. a person who is often the target of jokes, ridicule, or criticism
object, target, victim

These so-called couch potatoes are often the butt of jokes or regarded as being unintelligent.

12. supernatural
adj. relating to phenomena that cannot be explained by the laws of nature
paranormal, unnatural, mysterious

The belief in the supernatural powers of a stone or tree may cause a sculptor to be sensitive to
that material.

13. supposedly
adv. seemingly; probably
presumably, allegedly, reputedly

English goods were supposedly being smuggled into that city at a time when the Dutch
controlled trading in the area.

14. supreme
adj. highest in rank, power, or importance; most outstanding
uppermost, prime, excellent

The anthropologist suggested that all human beings have the capacity to understand that there
is a supreme god.

15. forge
v. to shape metal by heating and hammering; to develop something new
mold, invent, form

Genghis was able to forge his people into the greatest class of warriors the world has ever
known.

16. hearth
n. the floor of a fireplace or the area surrounding it
fireplace, fireside

Most early pottery was fired over open hearths.

17. shield
1) n. a piece of armor consisting of a broad plate
2) v. to protect from danger or harm
1) buckler 2) guard, defend

Locks and escutcheon plates - the latter to shield the wood from the metal key - would often be
imported.

18. sketch
v. to do a rough drawing or drawings of something

outline, delineate

Sometimes a talented man or woman who began by sketching family members gained a local
reputation.

19. outnumber
v. to exceed in number; to be more than

The greatest musical expansions and experimentations have involved percussion instruments,
which outnumber strings and winds.

20. overtake
v. to go past a moving vehicle or person in the same direction
overhaul, catch, reach

Art Nouveau was eventually overtaken by a new school of thought known as Functionalism,
which had been practiced since the turn of the century.

21. pessimistic
adj. emphasizing or expecting the worst
negative, cynical, hopeless

Most people mix a pessimistic and an optimistic outlook to some degree.

22. prevail
v. to be victorious; to be the common, usual, or generally accepted thing
predominate, preponderate, spread

After the 1870s, a number of important authors began to reject the romanticism that had
prevailed immediately following the Civil War.

23. prominent
adj. important or well-known; easily seen
eminent, celebrated, conspicuous

Forty-two prominent artists living in New York City founded the American Society of Painters
in Water Colors.

24. inception
n. the start of an organization, institution, or something else
beginning, outset, dawn

Since its inception in Italy around the year 1600, opera has experienced a number of shifts
and trends.

25. insanity cf. insane
n. the state of being insane
lunacy, madness

Hers is a world of violence, insanity, fractured love, and hopeless loneliness.

26. acculturation
n. the adoption of the behavior patterns of a surrounding culture
socialization

One crucial outcome of these musical acculturations was the development by blacks of the socalled blues scale, with its blue notes.

27. self-sacrificing
adj. forgoing ones own needs or interests for the sake of others
selfless, self-immolating

The Hopi people of Arizona stress the institutions of family and religion in a harmonious
existence which makes the self-sacrificing individual the ideal.

28. snap
v. to break suddenly and cleanly with a sharp cracking noise
crack, break, fracture

Before barbed wire came into general use, fencing was often made from serrated wire, which
could snap in cold weather due to contractions.

29. feed
v. to supply food to animals or something else; to supply a machine with fuel
nurture, nourish, supply

The wire to make the barbs is fed into the machine from the sides and cut to length by knives
that cut diagonally through the wire to produce a sharp point.

30. hull
n. the frame or body of a ship or airship
framework, structure, body

The clipper has a knifelike bow to slice easily through the water and a narrow hull so that the
ship can move smoothly.


1. prudent
adj. sensible and careful, especially by trying to avoid unnecessary risks
wary, cautious, discreet

A prudent investor never takes unnecessary financial risks.

2. raw
adj. not cooked; not processed, purified, or refined
unprepared, untreated, crude

Raw materials have less economic value than processed ones.

3. cling (to)
v. to hold firmly or tightly; to stick
adhere, attach, stick

In the nineteenth century, the former colonies lagged behind Britain in industrial development
because their supply of wood led them to cling to charcoal iron.

4. domesticate
v. to train an animal for life in the company of people
tame

Huge numbers of people began to rely on the grain they grew and the animals they
domesticated.

5. eager
adj. feeling great desire or enthusiasm; keen to do something
avid, enthusiastic, longing

This new technology enabled them to build factories in the largest cities, taking advantage of
urban concentrations of inexpensive labor and eager customers.

6. reconstruction
n. constructing or forming again
restoration

The desperate plight of the South eclipsed the fact that reconstruction had to be undertaken in
the North as well.

7. entrepreneur
n. someone who engages in business enterprises
industrialist

North American entrepreneurs increased productivity by reorganizing work and building
factories.

8. bust
n. a failure; a sudden decline in the economic conditions of a country
failure, recession

The more-or-less rhythmic succession of economic booms and busts is referred to as the
business cycle.

9. buttress
v. to support a system, idea, argument, or something else
brace, sustain, reinforce

The population flow from farms to cities increased, and the labor force it provided was
buttressed by millions of newly arrived immigrants.

10. clamp
v. to put or hold something in a position so that it cannot move
clasp, clip, fasten

In 1789, he invented a machine in which the cutter was clamped into a moveable slide that
could be advanced precisely by a hand crank.

11. avail
v. to provide with something useful or desirable
benefit, pay, profit

With much of the labor force inducted into the army and with grain prices on the rise, northern
farmers rushed to avail themselves of the new labor-saving equipment.

12. rational
adj. related to or based on reason or logic
logical, reasonable, sensible

Your rational mind tells you its just a stick, but your innate mind tells you it could be a snake.

13. resolve
1) v. to determine to do something
2) v. to find a solution for something
1) decide, determine 2) solve, answer

They were quick to lighten serious moments with humor and tried to resolve issues that
threatened to divide the group.

14. afterthought
1) n. a thought after a main plan has been formed
2) n. something added later
1) reconsideration 2) addition

In most of the earliest books for children, illustrations were an afterthought.

15. stimulate
v. to cause physical activity or increased activity; to initiate or to get going
rouse, spur, provoke

The agricultural revolution stimulated many in the countryside to seek new lives in the cities.

16. superb
adj. extremely good
perfect, marvelous, excellent

The city had a superb natural harbor as well as excellent rail connections.

17. tenement
n. a large building divided into several self-contained flats or apartments
apartment, flat

Urban slum wards often had no sewers, garbage collection, or gas or electric lines, and
tenements lacked both running water and central heating.

18. determinant
n. a thing that decides whether or how something happens

Economics was probably the most important determinant for the baby boom.

19. dilute
v. to make a liquid weaker; to make a quality or belief weaker or less effective
water down, weaken, lessen

As a result, it changes far more slowly than regular DNA, which is diluted by fifty percent each
generation.

20. uniformly
adv. without variation or diversity
consistently, evenly, equally

To be fair, laws must be uniformly applied to all people.

21. inspection
n. a close look at or over someone or something in order to judge its condition
scrutiny, examination, audit

The perishable commodities of trade generally came under state inspection.

22. jury cf. juror
n. a body of people sworn to give an honest verdict

Many Americans still feel that the jury system is at the core of their democracy.

23. legislative
adj. concerned with making laws
lawmaking

Members of congress have to spend most of their time in Washington taking care of their
legislative duties.

24. mock
1) v. to make someone or something the object of unkind laughter
2) adj. not real, but intended to be similar to a real situation or substance
1) deride, ridicule 2) fake, sham

He was asked to be a juror in the mock trial which will take place at the law school next week.

25. conspiracy
n. a secret plan made by two or more people to do something that is harmful or illegal
collusion, plot, intrigue

The details of John Kennedys death continue to elude the most relentless of conspiracy
theorists.

26. demographic
adj. pertaining to demography; relating to the dynamic balance of a population

Today, the elderly comprise the fastest growing demographic group in many developed
countries.

27. characteristic
n. a quality or feature of something or someone that is typical of that thing or person and is
easy to recognize
mark, trait, property

These factors ensured that Chicago would become a great city regardless of the
disadvantageous characteristics of the available site.

28. assign
v. to give a task or something else to someone
allocate, allot, apportion

In the research, each consideration is assigned a numerical value to reflect its relative
importance.

29. sponsor
v. to act as a sponsor for someone or something
patronize, support, back

Classes for adult immigrants were sponsored by public schools, corporations, unions,
churches, settlement houses, and other agencies.

30. dismay
v. to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble
discourage, dishearten

Some visitors were dismayed by the endless urban sprawl and dismissed Los Angeles as a mere
collection of suburbs in search of a city.


1. candidate
n. someone who is competing with others for a parliamentary seat or some other position
runner, nominee, applicant

Mars would be a more successful candidate for exploration and settlement.

2. cushion
v. to make the effect of a fall or hit less painful
soften, mitigate, absorb

The big surprise, though, is the role of air resistance in cushioning the shock of collisions.

3. bewildering
adj. thoroughly confusing, disorientating, or puzzling
baffling, perplexing, confusing

Telescopic images of the planet permitted the cataloging of a bewildering array of land forms.

4. quantify
v. to determine the quantity of something
measure

Scientists have tried to quantify the proportion of the suns energy.

5. refrigerate
v. to freeze something or to make it cold
chill, cool, ice

Florists often refrigerate cut flowers to protect their fresh appearance.

6. condense
v. to decrease the volume, size, or density of a substance
compress, compact, concentrate

The water stored as vapor in the atmosphere will condense to a liquid again, and the energy
will be released to the atmosphere.

7. constituent
n. a forming part of a whole
component, element, ingredient

Helium nuclei have also been found to be constituents of cosmic rays that fall on the Earth.

8. diffuse
v. to spread or to send out in all directions
disperse, distribute, scatter

The nitrogen diffuses from the tissues into the blood and from the blood into the lungs.

9. friction
n. the rubbing of one thing against another; disagreement or unfriendliness between people
abrasion, scrape, conflict

The air of the upper atmosphere is dense enough to ignite meteors by friction.

10. wander
v. to walk, move, or travel about with no particular destination
ramble, roam, range

Some of the mice wandered around the box and did not appear to be bothered by being so
exposed.

11. ferocious
adj. violently unfriendly or aggressive
fierce, savage, cruel

Barracudas are ferocious predators and are sometimes called the tigers of tropical waters.

12. humidity
n. the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere
dampness, moisture

When parrots incubate their eggs in the wild, the temperature and humidity of their nests are
controlled naturally.

13. instill
v. to impress ideas, feelings, or something else slowly or gradually
implant, imbue, infuse

Through this process, the conservationists instill in the whooping cranes a natural sense of
migration.

14. intact
adj. not broken or damaged; untouched
undamaged, unimpaired, unblemished

The finding of a perfectly intact massive dinosaur fossil may seem exciting, but to
paleontologists, it is just evidence that one beast died for some reason.

15. intake
n. a thing or quantity taken in or accepted; the act of taking in
consumption, ingestion

An important consideration of fat intake is the ratio of saturated fats to unsaturated fats.

16. expenditure
n. a payment made in the course of achieving a result
outlay, expense, cost

Each of the functions of the body, even thinking, requires the expenditure of energy.

17. incubator
n. a transparent container in which a prematurely born baby can be nurtured

The eggs were placed in incubators, hatched, and continually monitored and eventually raised
by specialists.

18. ingest
v. to take food or liquid into the body
consume, eat

The nectar of flowers is ingested by worker bees and converted to honey in a special sac in
their digestive systems.

19. insulation
n. the state of being alone or kept apart from others
isolation, secludedness, separateness

Fat acts as insulation against the cold and as cushioning for the internal organs.

20. jostle
v. to push something in an annoying way
hustle, jolt, push

Eventually, large rocks may be jostled around enough to be broken into sand-sized grains.

21. submerge
v. to plunge, sink, or cause to plunge or sink under the surface of some liquid
immerse, drench, dive

As the Bering land bridge had been submerged before the Eskimos came from Asia, they must
have arrived by boat.

22. decompose
v. to rot, usually as a result of the activity of fungi and bacteria
decay, break down, disintegrate

It is the rock that gradually decomposes into clay.

23. deposit
v. to put something down; to leave a layer of a substance on the surface of something
place, store, bank

When a river overflows, the coarser sand sediment is sometimes deposited on the river banks,
which forms natural levees.

24. fine
adj. consisting of tiny particles
dusty, floury, powdery

Table salt is finer than rock salt.

25. erode
v. to wear away, destroy, or be gradually destroyed
wear down, grind down, corrode

Rock is eroded by wind and water, and many of the eroded parts end up in the water system at
some point and, eventually, in the great rivers of the world.

26. give way to
ph. to give priority to; to collapse under pressure
concede, succumb, yield

Beyond a depth of around 2,900 kilometers, a great change takes place, and the mantle gives
way to the core.

27. labyrinth
n. a highly complex network of interconnected passages
maze

Located inside Rainers two ice-filled summit craters, these caves form a labyrinth of tunnels
and vaulted chambers about one and one-half miles in total length.

28. glowing
adj. giving out a steady heat or light without flames
burning, luminous, incandescent

Viewed from outer space, auroras can be seen as dimly glowing belts wrapped around each of
the Earths magnetic poles.

29. inflow
n. a flowing or coming in
influx, inrush

For a snowfall to continue once it starts, there must be a constant inflow of moisture to supply
the nuclei.

30. evaporate
v. to change or cause something to change from a liquid into a vapor
vaporize, boil off, dehydrate

Rain and melting snow quickly evaporate in the dry desert climate.


1. outlook
n. a view from a particular place
viewpoint, perspective, prospect

The town planning commission said that its financial outlook for the next fiscal year was
optimistic; it expects an increase in its tax revenues.

2. inviting
adj. attractive or tempting
alluring, captivating, enticing

In spite of Hunts inviting faade, the living space was awkwardly arranged.

3. loop
n. a rounded or oval-shaped single coil in a piece of thread, string, or rope
circle, hoop, ring

The Loop, which is the commercial heart of Chicago, is enclosed within a rectangular loop of
elevated train tracks.

4. magnificent
adj. splendidly impressive in size, extent, or appearance
great, grand, impressive

Even though many are taller, the buildings history and the magnificent view from the top have
helped its popularity endure throughout the decades.

5. draw on
ph. to utilize or make use of something as a source
employ, exploit, use

A public library is a resource the entire community can draw on.

6. toxic
adj. relating to the characteristics of poison or toxin
poisonous, venomous

In her book Silent Spring, Rachel Carson wrote about insecticides and their toxic effects on
animal life.

7. cosmic
adj. relating to the universe
universal

The extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by some physical event, either climatic or cosmic.

8. drastically
adv. with force or violence; severely or extensively
severely, violently, forcefully

The weather can change drastically in the desert over the course of a mere day.

9. bleak
adj. cold and cheerless
dreary, dismal, desolate

With its massive population and bleak future, many Haitians are sneaking across the border
and hoping for a better one in the Dominican Republic.

10. comparably
adv. in a similar way or to a similar degree
similarly, equivalently, likely

Crows are less well known than many comparably common species.

11. conserve
v. to keep safe from damage, deterioration, loss, or undesirable change
keep, preserve, save

In winter especially, it is important for birds to conserve their precious food reserves.

12. decline
n. a lessening of strength, health, or something else
weakening, decrease, downturn

There are two major factors which contributed to the decline of the bird in the early twentieth
century.

13. deficient
adj. not good enough; not having all that is needed
lacking, wanting, insufficient

If one of them is missing or deficient, an entire system can be placed in jeopardy.

14. mitigate
v. to make pain, anger, or something else less severe

moderate, relieve, lessen

One strategy for mitigating the impact of the heat island effect is to use construction materials
in houses, pavements, and highways that reflect, not absorb, the sunlight.

15. discrepancy
n. a failure of sets of information or something else to correspond to something
disparity, disagreement, inconsistency

The two nations have followed different paths of forest management, which has resulted in the
current discrepancy.

16. exhale
v. to breathe out
blow, puff

When the pressure inside the lungs increases, the air is exhaled.

17. abuse
n. the wrong use of ones power; the excessive use of harmful substances
perversion, misuse, ill-use

The therapy is excellent for treating individuals with eating disorders and drug abuse.

18. come about
ph. to happen
occur, take place, come up

The train wreck came about as a result of the engineers negligence.

19. methodically
adv. in a systematic way; systematically
neatly, tidily, regularly

Hazen methodically screened and cultured scores of soil samples, which she then sent to her
partner.

20. ironic
adj. containing, characterized by, or expressing irony
sarcastic, satirical, sardonic

It is somewhat ironic that without cholesterol, a persons body would not be able to function
correctly.

21. holistic
adj. considering a person or thing as a whole rather than as separate parts

Many individuals are taking a more holistic approach to their bodies and health rather than
simply looking for a quick cure.

22. imbibe
v. to drink, especially alcoholic drinks
drink, take

Traditionally, herbal teas are imbibed to boost the immune system.

23. tissue
n. a group of cells with a similar structure and particular function

Free radicals of oxygen, common byproducts of the metabolic processes in the body, are
capable of causing tissue damage.

24. alternative
adj. secondary or different, especially in terms of being less favorable as a choice
substitute, surrogate

Natural gas really is an excellent alternative fuel to gasoline.

25. cease
v. to bring or to come to an end
end, halt, stop

By the time the universe was a few minutes old, helium production had effectively ceased.

26. concise
adj. brief but comprehensive
compact, succinct, abridged

The system of chemical symbols, first devised around 1800, gives a concise and instantly
recognizable description of an element or compound.

27. tarnish
v. to make or become dull and discolored
sully, stain, spoil

In the metal industry, hydrogen is used to prevent metals from tarnishing while undergoing
heat treatments.

28. homology
n. the same relation; the quality of being similar or corresponding in position, value
structure, or function

The concepts of analogy and homology are probably easier to exemplify than to define.

29. pectoral
adj. referring to or relating to the breast or chest
thoracic

The pectoral fins of a fish, the wings of a bird, and the forelimbs of a mammal are all
homologous structures.

30. affliction
n. distress or suffering
hardship, pain, disease

Future studies of the brain may make it possible to create microchips that can be implanted,
thus curing stutterers of their afflictions for good.


1. enthusiasm
n. lively or passionate interest or eagerness
fervor, passion, ardor

There seemed to be nothing that men are so afraid of as religious enthusiasm.

2. eradicate
v. to get rid of something completely
eliminate, obliterate, remove

Governmental attempts to eradicate the black market were less than successful.

3. trend
n. a general direction or tendency
inclination, leaning, direction

A generation in pop-culture terms measures about two years, and a trend can come and go in
weeks.

4. progressive
adj. favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform
advancing, liberal, radical

The progressive movement is an umbrella term referring to some reform efforts that emerged in
the early 1900s.

5. crisscross
v. to cross one another in different directions
weave, traverse

Wagons and coaches continued to crisscross the West wherever the rails had not yet been laid.

6. designate
v. to name, choose, or specify someone or something for a particular purpose
nominate, appoint, select

The Antiquities Act gives the president the unobstructed power to designate land as national
monuments.

7. attain
v. to complete successfully
accomplish, achieve, reach

The natives attained one of the most complex social organizations of any nonagricultural
people in the world.

8. attribute
n. a trait or characteristic of something
trait, quality, feature

The physical attributes of the Hole in the Rock in Arizona allow its use as a natural calendar.

9. surmise
v. to conclude something from the information available
suppose, assume, guess

One might surmise that these dwellings were built for protection, but the Anasazi had no
known enemies.

10. synonymous (with)
adj. having the character of synonyms or a synonym; equivalent in meaning
equal, tantamount, identical

They thought of the Industrial Revolution as synonymous with mechanization, with human
labor replaced by machines.

11. henceforth
adv. from now on; from this point forward
hereafter, henceforward

In 1926, he announced that, henceforth, his factories would close for the entire day on
Saturday.

12. immutable
adj. unable to be changed
changeless, invariable, constant

Adjustments in various places show that the standard is not immutable.

13. imperative
adj. absolutely essential; urgent
necessary, requisite, pressing

With the gradual evolution of society, more complex counting became imperative.

14. incise
v. to cut into, especially precisely and with a specialized sharp tool
cut, gash, slash

Some pots were adorned with incised or stamped decorations.

15. incur
v. to bring something unpleasant upon oneself; to become liable for debts
draw, arouse, provoke

The reason is due to the cost since the family will incur heavy expenses because of the funeral.

16. iridescent
adj. having many bright rainbow-like colors which seem to change constantly
opalescent

A favored device of the style was to imitate the iridescent surface seen on ancient glass.

17. fate
n. the apparent power that determines the course of events over which humans have no control
fortune, destiny, doom

Some writers wrote of a world in which a cruel and merciless environment determined human
fate.

18. proclivity
n. a natural liking or tendency, especially towards something bad
inclination, preference, tendency

The proclivity to play hot distinguished jazz musicians from other instrumentalists.

19. undergo
v. to experience something especially unpleasant or difficult
suffer, bear, endure

The surrounding area was undergoing tremendous economic and demographic growth.

20. revere
v. to feel or show great respect or reverence for someone or something
respect, admire, worship

Founded by John Ruskin and William Morris, the movement revered craft as a form of art.

21. rotate
v. to turn or make something turn about an axis like a wheel
revolve, spin, whirl

Committee membership rotates every year so that new voices and opinions are constantly
heard.

22. myriad
adj. an exceedingly great number
countless, limitless

A series of mechanical improvements finally produced an instrument capable of myriad tonal
effects.

23. norm
n. a typical pattern or situation; a standard, especially for achievement in industry
criterion, standard, model

The organization of the opera never deviates from the usual norm.

24. preoccupation
n. the state or condition of being preoccupied
obsession, absorption

An examination of the art of the Middle Ages tells us something about the medieval
preoccupation with theological doctrine.

25. rage
n. a widespread, usually temporary, fashion
fashion, vogue, craze

In the late eighteenth century, portraiture was the rage, so Raphaelle Peale found few buyers
for his still lives.

26. refreshing
adj. producing a feeling of comfort and new strength
invigorating, rejuvenating, exhilarating

Satire exists because readers appreciate a refreshing stimulus, an irreverent reminder they
live in a world of platitudinous thinking.

27. exuberant
adj. overflowing with life and cheerful excitement
joyful, lively, vigorous

Self-image can be indicated by a tone of voice that is confident, shy, aggressive, or exuberant.

28. delivery
n. the carrying of goods, letters, or something else to a person or place
distribution, conveyance, transportation

The free delivery service was at first confined to cities, and soon home delivery became a mark
of urbanism.

29. insulting cf. insult
adj. rude or offensive with lack of respect
contemptuous, rude, offensive

After the Civil War, Jefferson Davis, president of the Southern Confederacy, was the subject of
an insulting popular Northern song.

30. formidable
adj. causing fear, doubt, or anxiety; very impressive
appalling, awesome, overwhelming

The northwest coast of the United States is uniquely characterized by the formidable Cascade
Mountain Range.


1. prior
adj. existing or arranged before something else or before the present situation
earlier, former, previous

Employers often require job applicants to have prior experience in the field.

2. output
n. the quantity or amount of something produced
production, yield

The innovations in manufacturing boosted output and living standards to an unprecedented
extent.

3. capacity
1) n. someones ability to do something
2) n. the amount of space a container or room has to hold things or people
1) ability, faculty 2) space, volume

The economic heart of Canada, Ontario accounts for more than 40 percent of the nations
productive capacity.

4. cohesion
n. the process or state of sticking together; the tendency to unite
cohesiveness, connection, bond

The airplanes contributed to a kind of international cohesion, which was beginning to emerge
due to air travel across the oceans.

5. colossal
adj. extraordinarily great in size, extent, or degree
vast, gigantic, enormous

The Lincoln Memorial features a colossal statue of the sixteenth president.

6. cramped
adj. uncomfortably restricted in size
tight, crowded, close

Having a lower income generally forces people to live in more cramped quarters than those
typically occupied by wealthier people.

7. defunct
adj. no longer living, existing, active, usable, or in use
extinct, outmoded, expired

The city cannot legally sign a contract with a defunct corporation.

8. dictate
v. to say words for someone to write down; to tell someone what to do
command, order, demand

The quality of the hinterland dictated the pace of growth of the cities.

9. astounding
adj. so surprising that it is almost impossible to believe
astonishing, shocking, stunning

The circulation of Ladies Home Journal reached an astounding 700,000 copies.

10. turmoil
n. a state of confusion, excitement, or anxiety
disorder, confusion, unrest

There were a number of major causes for the social and religious turmoil experienced in
Europe during the fourteenth century.

11. valid
1) adj. based on truth or sound reasoning
2) adj. drawn up according to proper legal procedure
1) concrete, sound 2) lawful, legitimate

In some societies, both male and female lines are considered equally valid.

12. vigilance
n. the state of being watchful or observant
alertness, watchfulness, caution

From this point until the first green corn could be harvested, the crop required labor and
vigilance.

13. exorbitant
adj. going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
excessive, outrageous, disproportionate

Reformers argued that the privately owned utility companies would charge exorbitant rates for
these essential services.

14. exponential
adj. becoming faster and faster

Except for Boston, cities grew by exponential leaps through the eighteenth century.

15. filthy
adj. extremely dirty
foul, tainted, unclean

The filthy living conditions were definitely a major reason why the Black Death was so
devastating to Europe.

16. foothold
n. a place to put ones foot when climbing; a firm or secure position
footing, bridgehead, base

The five-day working week gained a firm foothold in England during the past year.

17. foreshadow
v. to give or have some indication of something in advance
augur, indicate, presage

The beginning of a major change was foreshowed in the later 1860s.

18. ghastly
adj. making someone very frightened, upset, or shocked
awful, terrible, appalling

The date of the pandemics ghastly, horrific assault on Europe was probably around the midfourteenth century.

19. go along with
ph. to comply with something, even if reluctantly
agree to, assent to, concur with

The president would go along with the decision to hire more people if the department could
bring in more revenue.

20. grant
n. something granted, especially an amount of money from a public fund for a specific
purpose
subsidy, subvention

Many universities receive grants to do research for the federal government.

21. herald
v. to proclaim or usher in something
announce, proclaim, declare

The Declaration of Independence included the names of its signers and therefore heralded the
support of all thirteen colonies.

22. discourse
n. an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue
discussion, colloquy

Much of what constituted the traditional political discourse of earlier ages has been lost.

23. emissary
n. a person sent on a mission, especially on behalf of a government
messenger, envoy, legate

When the British sent emissaries demanding the surrender of the colony, the leader wanted to
fight.

24. entanglement
n. a difficult situation or relationship that is hard to escape from
involvement, complication

The first president advised the nation to avoid foreign entanglements, and, for the first
century, the country was quite adept at doing so.

25. facilitation cf. facilitate
n. the act of making something easy or easier
aid, assist, promotion

The goals of the federal government were the facilitation of western settlements and the
development of native industries.

26. fatigue
1) v. to exhaust or to become exhausted
2) n. tiredness after work or effort
1) tire, exhaust 2) weariness, tiredness

People make more mistakes when they are fatigued than when they are fresh.

27. insatiable
adj. not able to be satisfied; extremely greedy

greedy, ravenous, unquenchable

One characteristic that many psychologists have agreed is common to creative types is an
insatiable curiosity.

28. antecedent
n. an event or circumstance which precedes another
forerunner, precursor, predecessor

A book was generally bound simply, in boards or merely stitched in paper wrappers, which was
an antecedent of modern-day paperbacks.

29. blunder
n. a foolish or thoughtless, and usually serious, mistake
error, mistake, howler

The airline blundered. It sent him to Atlanta but his luggage to Montreal.

30. ideal
1) n. the best or most suitable that something could be
2) adj. perfect in every way
1) perfection, nonpareil 2) supreme, complete

Many people feel that Hawaii has an almost ideal climate.


1. postpone
v. to delay or put off something till later
defer, adjourn, suspend

NASA sometimes postpones the launch of space vehicles on account of bad weather or
technical problems.

2. atmosphere
n. the layer of gas surrounding a planet; the general or prevailing climate or mood
aerosphere, air, mood

Atmosphere is crucial because it protects humans and all other life from the continuous
bombardment of cosmic radiation.

3. axis
n. an imaginary straight line around which an object, like a planet, rotates

The axis is tilted so that Earth has various seasons at the northern and southern regions.

4. bypass
v. to avoid a congested or blocked place by taking a route which goes round it
evade, circumvent, sidestep

The moons relatively harsh environment is the major reason why it should be bypassed.

5. related
adj. connected with something or someone in some way

associated, linked, allied

In science, a theory is a reasonable explanation of observed events that are related.

6. capsize
v. to turn over completely
invert, overturn, upset

Small sailboats can easily capsize if they are not handled carefully.

7. abrasion
n. the process of rubbing a surface very hard so that it becomes damaged or disappears
erosion, friction, wear

Abrasion due to daily wear alters the surface features of beads.

8. atom
n. the smallest unit of a chemical element that can display the properties of that element

Physicists have known since the early nineteenth century that all matter is made up of
extremely tiny particles called atoms.

9. aurora
n. an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands of light caused by charged solar particles
following the Earths magnetic lines of force

The colors of an aurora depend on the atoms emitting them.

10. keen
1) adj. having a sharp edge or point
2) adj. enthusiastic about something or someone
1) sharp, pointed 2) eager, enthusiastic

The rhinoceros has a poor sense of sight but a keen sense of smell.

11. gigantic
adj. extremely large in size, amount, or degree
enormous, huge, massive

Like the dinosaurs, some of the pterosaurs became gigantic.

12. grasp
1) v. to take a firm hold of something or someone
2) v. to completely understand
1) grip, seize 2) understand, comprehend

A couple of major contrasts between ant and human societies are perhaps easier to grasp.

13. groundbreaking
adj. making new discoveries; using new methods
innovative

The groundbreaking work of primatologists Louis Leakey and Jane Goodall has shown that
the chimpanzee is not just another monkey.

14. hibernation
n. passing the winter in a sleeping or inactive condition

Some animal activities, such as mating, migration, and hibernation, have a yearly cycle.

15. hue
n. a color or type of color
tint, shade, tone

The birds head is colored red and black, and its eyes are a deep, golden hue.

16. fertilize
v. to make new animal or plant develop; to supply soil or land with extra nutrients
impregnate, pollinate, enrich

The male ants serve one purpose only; to fertilize the eggs of the queen.

17. lacerate
v. to cut skin deeply with something sharp; to wound or hurt someones feelings
gash, rip, wound, hurt

The weed has sharp, spiny leaves that can lacerate the flesh of ranchers and horses alike.

18. litter
1) n. discarded rubbish lying in a public place
2) v. to make something untidy
1) rubbish, debris 2) clutter, scatter

The ground under towering oaks is often littered with thousands of half-eaten acorns, each one
only bitten from the top.

19. huddle
v. to gather or crowd together in a close mass

cluster, crowd, pack

The effect of sheltering is magnified by several birds, including wrens, swifts, and brown
creepers, huddling together in the roosts.

20. nostril
n. either of the two external openings in the nose
nare

The sea otter is well adapted to its marine existence, with ears and nostrils that can be closed
under water.

21. summit
n. the highest point of a mountain or hill
pinnacle, zenith, peak

The snow-covered summit of Mount Hood is the highest point in the state of Oregon.

22. igneous
adj. of rocks formed when magma becomes solid, especially after it has poured out of a
volcano

Even today, approximately 95 percent of the entire crust is igneous.

23. crack
n. a partial fracture in a material produced by an external force or internal stress
split, crevice, rift

If there is a crack in the rock, a crack that runs from the aquifer to the surface pushes the
water up through it.

24. facet
n. any of the flat sides of something; an aspect of a problem
side, aspect, phase

The more facets a diamond has, the more it glitters.

25. expedition
n. an organized journey with a specific purpose
excursion, exploration

The Lewis and Clark expedition, sponsored by President Jefferson, was the most important
examination of the high plains and the northwest before the War of 1812.

26. entomb
v. to put a body in a tomb; to bury someone or something
bury, inter

Although they were entombed in rock for millions of years, many fossils have organic remains
in them.

27. fleck
n. a spot or marking
speck, dot, mark

The Glass Mountains of northwestern Oklahoma are covered with flecks of gypsum, which
shine in the sunlight.

28. oscillation
n. a movement of swinging or making something swing backward and forward
fluctuation, vibration, swing

In the diurnal type of tidal oscillation, the alternate rise and fall of sea level, a single high
water and a single low water occur each tidal day.

29. consecutive
adj. following one after the other; in sequence
successive, succeeding, sequential

The driest deserts are called hyper-arid, and rain is absent for at least twelve consecutive
months.

30. embed
v. to set or fix something firmly and deeply
root, entrench, implant

When meteorites fell on the continent, they were embedded in the moving ice sheets.


1. harmonize
v. to form or be made to form a pleasing whole
coordinate, conform

Frank Lloyd Wright is known for his highly original methods of harmonizing buildings with
their surroundings.

2. intimacy
n. a state of having a close personal relationship with someone
familiarity, closeness, nearness

The American farmer is as free of the intimacy of the village as the urbanite.

3. impetus
n. the force with which something moves; a driving force
thrust, impulse, stimulus

Brick houses became common in Boston, where the danger of fire gave an impetus to using
more durable materials.

4. edifice
n. a building, especially a large and impressive one
building, hall, palace

The Executive Mansion, constructed in the 1790s and now called the White House, is the
oldest edifice in Washington, D.C.

5. foliage
n. the green leaves on a tree or plant; the sprays of leaves used for decoration
leafage, greenery

Art deco regularized the forms into abstracted repetitive patterns rather than presenting them
as flowing, asymmetrical foliage.

6. archaic
adj. from or relating to ancient times; old and no longer used
antiquated, outmoded, out-of-date

In fact, hybrid technology was archaic as was battery technology.

7. bark
n. the tough and protective outer layer which covers the stems and roots of woody plants

The bark of a tree thickens with age.

8. emission cf. emit
n. the act of sending out light, heat, or gas
discharge, ejection, radiation

Emissions from the new diesel release up to 30% less carbon dioxide into the air than gas
burners.

9. encroach (on)
v. to advance beyond proper, established, or usual limits
intrude, trespass, infringe

As populations in Africa explode and encroach on chimpanzee societies, they begin to become
infected with disease, suffer, and die.

10. entrench
v. to fortify something with trenches dug around it; to establish something firmly
establish, embed, fix

This combination of resources and technology is entrenched in mans way of life.

11. environs
n. surrounding areas, especially the outskirts of a town or city
environment, neighborhood

The numbers of bacteria are vast, which allows them both to dominate and maintain a healthy
balance within their environs.

12. impede
v. to prevent or delay the start or progress of an activity or something else
obstruct, hamper, hinder

Weeds clog waterways, destroy wildlife habitats, and impede farming.

13. epic
adj. having the features of an epic; very great and impressive
heroic, imposing, impressive

This is unfortunate since the loss of the menhaden spells an eco-disaster of epic proportions.

14. forage
v. to gather food or provisions from an area
graze, pasture

During the day, parties of birds will have spread out to forage over a very large area.

15. fraction
n. a small part of something
segment, portion, bit

Only a small fraction of all the organisms that have ever lived are preserved as fossils.

16. layman
n. someone who is not a member of the clergy; someone who does not have specialized
knowledge
worldling, nonprofessional

Both doctors and laymen talk about both hemispheres of the brain as if each has specially
assigned functions.

17. ailment
n. an illness, especially a minor one
sickness, affliction, disease

Anthrax is generally an ailment of sheep and cattle but may also be transmitted to humans.

18. nausea
n. a sensation that one is about to vomit
queasiness, squeamishness

Early signs characteristic of the acute phase of viral hepatitis are abdominal pain, nausea,
and fever often accompanied by chills.

19. perspiration
n. the secretion of fluid by the sweat glands of the skin
sweating

Anyone working under conditions that cause a heavy amount of perspiration can suffer heat
exhaustion.

20. pharmaceutical
n. the preparation of drugs and medicines; medicine
medication, drug

Thousands today claim that pharmaceuticals have done wonders, helping them manage stress
better on a day-to-day basis.

21. pulsate
v. to make sounds or movements that are strong and regular like a heart beating
beat, throb, pulse

Ki is a kind of life force that pulsates through every humans body.

22. rectify
v. to correct a mistake; to adjust something
correct, revise, fix

Research has demonstrated that rapid weight loss can be rectified by providing adequate
protein associated with certain foods.

23. spinal cf. spine
adj. belonging, relating, or referring to the spine

The spinal column is like the brain in that its main functions can be classified as either
sensory or motor functions.

24. stamina
n. energy and staying power
vigor, robustness, indefatigability

Some teas build stamina and are good for digestive purposes.

25. correlate
v. to have a connection or correspondence; to relate one thing to another
link, associate, connect

One function of a virus that does not correlate with its size is its ability to cause a serious
disease.

26. corrosive
adj. capable of eating away; tending to cause corrosion
caustic

The chemical element chlorine is a corrosive, greenish-yellow gas that has a sharp odor and is
2 1/2 times heavier than air.

27. detergent
n. a liquid or powder used for washing clothes, dishes, or something else
cleanser

Detergents clean clothes by first removing particles of dirt from the fabric and then
suspending the particles until they can be washed away.

28. tart
adj. sharp or sour in taste
acidic, sour, tangy

Citric acid gives citrus fruit their tart taste.

29. haphazard
adj. happening or done in a way that is not planned or organized
casual, random, arbitrary

At first, the results of the experiment seemed haphazard , but a pattern finally emerged.

30. tamper (with)
1) v. to interfere or to meddle
2) v. to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously
1) intervene 2) fiddle, mess

One should never buy food or medicine if the package has obviously been tampered with.


1. fort
n. a fortified military building, enclosure, or position
fortress, base, stronghold

In addition to their military role, the forts of the nineteenth century provided numerous other
benefits for the American West.

2. imposing
adj. impressive, especially in size, dignity, or appearance
majestic, magnificent, grand

The First Bank of the United States still stands in the imposing building constructed in the
1790s.

3. retract
v. to refuse to keep an agreement, a promise, or something else
withdraw, revoke, cancel

Once determined, little can be done to retract or stop the establishment of monuments.

4. apparent
adj. easy to see or to understand
obvious, evident, clear

The way in which a society views its environment is sometimes apparent in its choice and use
of artistic materials.

5. unearth
v. to dig something up out of the ground
excavate, disclose, uncover

Vast quantities of tablets in Sumerian have been unearthed during the intervening years from
numerous sites.

6. utmost
adj. the greatest possible in degree, number, or amount
paramount, ultimate, supreme

The clay used in prehistoric pot making was invariably selected with the utmost care.

7. luster
n. the shiny appearance of something in reflected light
radiance, luminosity, sheen

The distinctive color and luster of pottery were the results of skillful adjustments of the kilns
temperature.

8. mundane
adj. connected with ordinary daily life rather than religious matters
everyday, prosaic

A man remains a creation eternally torn between the divine and the mundane.

9. ornate
adj. covered with a lot of decoration
elaborate, flamboyant

These tools were highly ornate, with elaborate barbs and points on them.

10. procure
v. to manage to obtain something or to bring something about
acquire, gain, come by

Hunting is a precarious way of procuring food even when the persons diet is supplemented
with seeds and fruits.

11. ramble
v. to go where one pleases; to wander
stroll, amble, meander

The Anasazi began to build their homes above ground and joined them together into rambling
multistoried complexes.

12. rebuke
1) n. a stern reprimand or reproach
2) v. to speak severely to someone
1) criticism 2) reprove, scold

Fighting, bullying, or attempting to surpass others brings automatic rebuke from the
community.

13. sufficient
adj. as much as is needed for a particular purpose
enough, adequate

They enjoyed sufficient patronage to allow them to maintain an image of themselves as
professional artists.

14. setting
n. a set of surroundings; a background within or against which action takes place
environment, background, scene

The museum featured paintings by Peale and his family and displays of animals in their
natural settings.

15. solemn
adj. very serious and not happy; performed in a very serious way
grave, serious, sober

Within a very short time, the incongruity of playing lively music for a solemn film became
apparent.

16. contrasting
adj. different or dissimilar between things or people that are being compared
different, dissimilar, distinct

The new taste demanded dramatic effects of contrasting stark outline and complex textural
surfaces.

17. struggle
n. a long and hard fight to get freedom, political rights, or something else; a task requiring
strenuous effort
fight, strife, effort

The Hudson River School seems to have emerged in the 1870s as a direct result of the struggle
between the old and new generations of artists.

18. prodigious
adj. very large or great in a surprising or impressive way
huge, enormous, immense

Her productivity has been prodigious, as she has, in less than two decades, written nearly
thirty works.

19. protrude
v. to stick out from somewhere
project, extend

The painter stands out with his life-sized painting of a womans bent back from which protrude
real thorns.

20. score
n. a written or printed copy of music for several parts and which is set out vertically down the
page
music

The most famous score was composed and arranged for D. W. Griffiths film Birth of a Nation.

21. spontaneous
adj. unplanned and voluntary or instinctive; not provoked or invited by others
natural, instinctive, involuntary

Music began playing a greater role in opera, was spontaneous, and often mirrored the
characters emotions.

22. criterion
n. a standard or principle on which to base a judgment
standard, benchmark, touchstone

Some groups judged potential members through a complex set of criteria that often included
class, education and skin tone.

23. in vain
ph. without success; to no purpose
unsuccessfully, vainly, fruitlessly

Supply ships were essential during the war because, without the supply ships, all would be in
vain.

24. rugged
adj. not having a level or smooth surface
jagged, rough, bumpy

The glass fibers were brittle, ragged, and no longer than ten feet.

25. in proportion to
ph. having due proportion
corresponding

The high-pressure engine was far lighter in proportion to its horsepower and was much easier
and cheaper to repair than the previous one.

26. obsessed
adj. completely or constantly occupied by thoughts or the mind
haunted, preoccupied, possessed

Evans quickly became obsessed by the possibilities of mechanized production and steam
power.

27. option cf. opt
n. the power, right, or opportunity to choose
choice, selection

Their speed of travel made steamboats the most attractive and practical option for shipping as
well as for human travel.

28. ridge
n. a long and narrow strip of relatively high ground with steep slopes on either side
crest, strip, top edge

The distance was more than 350 miles, and there were ridges to cross and a wilderness of
woods and swamps to penetrate.

29. resort (to)
v. to turn to something as a means of solving a problem
turn, fall back

It is pleasant to imagine a woodworker carefully matching lumber and joining a chest together
without resort to nails or glue.

30. aid
v. to help or support in the form of money, supplies, or services
assist, help, back

The swamps environment kept bacterial decay down, which aided in the preservation of plants
and animals.


1. wage
n. a regular payment from an employer to an employee
salary, pay, earnings

Congress sets the minimum wage, which is the lowest amount of money workers may be paid
per hour.

2. communal
adj. for or by a group rather than individuals
collective, shared, common

Communal violence broke out in different parts of the country.

3. boom
v. to become rapidly prosperous; to increase sharply in value
prosper, flourish, roar

The glass factories of Toledo, Ohio, boomed after Michael Owens invented a process that
turned out bottles by the thousands.

4. ploy
n. a stratagem or maneuver to gain an advantage
artifice, trick, wile

At this point, she may use one of several ploys to deceive her enemy.

5. follow suit
ph. to do the same thing; to follow the example of another
follow in ones tracks, conform to

When Britain developed coke smelting, the colonies did not follow suit because they had
plenty of wood.

6. foment
v. to encourage or foster ill-feeling or something else
agitate, inflame, provoke

The event was a major issue that fomented the break between England and the British
colonies.

7. implement
1) v. to take action or make changes that have been decided
2) n. a tool, especially one used for outdoor physical work
1) execute, carry out 2) instrument, utensil

A plow is a farm implement used to break up soil and to prepare the land for planting.

8. jolt
n. a jarring shake; an emotional shock
bounce, blow, shock

The coachs rugged body and suspension system of leather straps could handle the hard jolts
from rough roads.

9. altogether
adv. wholly; with all or everything included
entirely, totally, utterly

The interrelationship of science, technology, and industry is summed up, not altogether
accurately, as research and development.

10. assassinate cf. assassin
v. to kill suddenly or secretively
kill, murder

A group who favored the restoration of the Roman Republic assassinated Caesar in 44 B.C.

11. optimal
adj. most favorable; most suitable
optimum

Proponents of the worksheet procedure believe that it will yield optimal, that is, the best
decisions.

12. hygiene
n. a condition of cleanliness that helps maintain health
cleanliness, sanitation

City streets were crowded with citizens, and hygiene was not at the top of a fourteenth-century
Europeans list of priorities.

13. influx
n. a continual stream or arrival of large numbers of people or things
inflow, inrush

This black influx to cities increased during World War II as blacks came seeking jobs in the
war industries.

14. ingenuity
n. inventive cleverness, skill, or originality; inventiveness
handiness, brilliance, creativity

Some functions of the park are direct results of the ingenuity of the citizenry.

15. instability cf. stability
n. a lack of physical or mental steadiness or stability
insecurity, precariousness, shakiness

The rezoning plan would catalyze physical expansion and accelerate the inherent instability of
urban life.

16. gulf
n. a portion of an ocean or sea partly enclosed by land; a large difference between two people
or groups
bay, cove, gap

A gulf that at times seemed unbridgeable was created between husbands and wives.

17. intriguing
adj. arousing curiosity or interest
interesting, fascinating, immersing

The bustle and social interaction of urban life seemed particularly intriguing to those raised
in rural isolation.

18. cooperation
n. an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose
collaboration, teamwork, interaction

The original motivation for the space station was to foster cooperation between the United
States and the Soviet Union.

19. accuse
v. to make a claim of wrongdoing against
blame, denounce, indict

In the United States, every person accused of a crime has the right to a trial by a jury of his or
her peers.

20. eloquently
adv. in an eloquent manner; by powerful discourse
fluently, persuasively, effectively

Few American politicians have spoken more eloquently than William Jennings Bryan.

21. feeble
adj. lacking strength
fragile, weak, infirm

The national government made a feeble attempt to reduce taxes.

22. intertwine
v. to twist or be twisted together
interweave, interlace, entangle

The American Constitution clearly states that religious worship and governmental activities
shall not be intertwined.

23. nominate
v. to suggest someone formally for a position, office, or something else
appoint, designate, name

In 1884, Belva Lockwood, a lawyer who had appeared before the Supreme Court, became the
first woman nominated for president of the United States.

24. decree
v. to order or decide something formally or officially
ordain, proclaim, pronounce

The president decreed that no more money would be spent on missile defense.

25. fair
n. an event at which people or businesses show and sell their products; a market
exhibition, exposition, bazaar

The fairs provided a means of bringing handmade goods from outlying places to would-be
buyers in the city.

26. bond
1) n. something used for tying, binding, or holding
2) n. a written agreement to pay money
1) tie 2) contract, covenant

Investment banking deals with corporate stocks and bonds as well as the government bonds.

27. condemn
1) v. to declare something to be wrong or evil
2) v. to give someone a punishment after deciding the person is guilty of a crime
1) criticize 2) convict, sentence

When Martin Luther was condemned as a religious outlaw, he experienced profound spiritual
and physical torment.

28. nurture
1) n. care or nourishment given to a growing child
2) v. to nourish and tend to a growing child
1) raising 2) foster, nourish

The other theory maintains that a child is defined by environment nurture not nature.

29. statutorily
adv. in terms of rules or laws which have been formally written down
legally, legitimately

The name charter refers to the statutorily defined performance contract that the schools are
expected to meet.

30. intrude
v. to force or impose oneself without welcome or invitation
encroach, interfere, break in

The printed word, unquestionably, was intruding on the insulation that had characterized the
United States society in an earlier period.


1. fickle
adj. likely to change suddenly and without reason
capricious, inconstant

This, along with the fickle nature of hurricanes, adds to the turmoil that hurricanes inflict on
the populations of the areas they hit.

2. celestial
adj. belonging or relating to the sky
astronomical, heavenly

The orbit of a celestial body is usually in the shape of an ellipse.

3. staggering
adj. almost unbelievable
amazing, surprising, unpredictable

The process could take hundreds or even thousands of years to complete, and the cost would be
staggering.

4. contradict
v. to assert the opposite of a statement or something else made by a person; to disagree with
controvert, counter

Newtons idea of gravity as a force of attraction, which contradicted the idea of a universe that
is static, was unchanging.

5. crater
n. the bowl-shaped mouth of a volcano or geyser
hole, cavity, pit

The roughness of the moons surface is mostly caused by the abundance of craters.

6. retreat
v. to move back or away from the enemy or to retire after defeat
withdraw, recede, evacuate

Some 800 years ago, Alaskas Hubbard Glacier advanced toward the sea, retreated, and
advanced again 500 years later.

7. interstitial
adj. pertaining to, situated in, or forming a space or crack

Some fossil bones have all of their interstitial spaces filled with foreign minerals.

8. misconception
n. a wrong or misguided attitude, opinion, or view
misapprehension, misjudgment, misunderstanding

That all deserts are hot is a common misconception.

9. granular
adj. made of or containing tiny particles or granules
grainy, gritty, particulate

As new snow falls and buries the older snow, the layers of granular snow further compact.

10. hemisphere
n. one half of a sphere

Logically, in the Northern Hemisphere, a north wind turns to bring colder weather and the
south wind warmer weather.

11. ornamental
adj. serving as an ornament
decorative, adorning, beautifying

An ornamental plant is cultivated chiefly for its beauty.

12. estimate
v. to judge or calculate size, amount, or value roughly or without measuring
approximate, gauge, guess

A professor estimated that each large white oak produced between two and eight thousand
acorns.

13. disproportionately
adv. out of proportion, as in size or number
asymmetrically, unevenly

Humans are disproportionately right-handed.

14. stash
v. to put aside or away for safekeeping or future use, usually in a secret place
cache, secrete

The ant colony contains all of the ants important possessions, such as the queen and their
stashed food reserves.

15. forerunner
n. a person or thing that goes before; an earlier type or version
predecessor, forebear, precursor

Experts have concentrated their studies on the species called the Allosaur, a forerunner of the
massive Tyrannosaurus Rex.

16. fragrant
adj. having a pleasant scent or aroma
sweet-smelling, sweet-scented, aromatic

The daylily is an attractive, fragrant flower.

17. dehydration
n. dryness resulting from the removal of water; an abnormal loss of water from the body
evaporation

Dehydration occurs when more water is lost through perspiration or diarrhea than is replaced
by fluid intake.

18. obedient
adj. doing what one is ordered to do; willing to obey
observant, docile, compliant

They are wild animals and do not make obedient, domesticated pets.

19. impinge
1) v. to interfere with or encroach on something or someone
2) v. to make an impression
1) infringe, encroach 2) impact

Floridas surrounding lushness cannot impinge on its desert scrubbiness.

20. omnivorous
adj. eating any type of food, especially both meat and vegetable matter
polyphagous

Chimpanzees are omnivorous, which means that they rely on meat, plant life, and fruit for
subsistence.

21. pandemonium
n. any very disorderly or noisy place or assembly
chaos, turmoil, uproar

The chimpanzees ability to use tools caused near pandemonium in the scientific world.

22. transmit
v. to pass or hand on, especially a message, an inheritance, or disease
transfer, convey, send

Paths, roads, and trails made journeys easier, and the creation of maps transmitted this
knowledge to others.

23. bound
adj. tied with or as if with a rope or other binding; stuck together
fastened, tied, fixed

The process by which individual crystals become bound together in a collection of ice crystals
produces glacial ice.

24. ore
n. rock, earth, or something else from which metal can be obtained

The ore is broken up in a series of blasting operations.

25. bunch
1) n. a number of things fastened or growing together
2) v. to group together in or to form a bunch or bunches of something
1) bundle, cluster 2) collect, gather

In the polar regions, the magnetic lines of force of the Earth and of the solar wind bunch
together.

26. acronym
n. a word made from the first letters of other words and pronounced as a word in its own
right
abbreviation

The word laser was coined as an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission
of Radiation.

27. conflict
1) n. a disagreement; a fierce argument
2) v. to be incompatible or in opposition; to fight
1) dispute, opposition 2) disagree, clash

When Jules Verne wrote Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1864, there were many
conflicting theories about the nature of the Earths interior.

28. outfit
1) n. a set of equipment; an organization
2) v. to provide someone with an outfit
1) apparatus, group 2) equip, furnish

The cable ship crew will pull the trencher back up to the surface and outfit it with a burying
apparatus.

29. percolate
v. to pass slowly through a material that has small holes in it
filter, seep, permeate

All of the minerals deposited within the bone have been recrystallized from solution by the
action of water percolating though them.

30. insurmountable
adj. too large or difficult to be dealt with
unbeatable, indomitable, invincible

The difficulties involved in rapidly collecting and processing the raw weather data from such
an old network were insurmountable.


1. commission
v. to give a commission or authority to someone
authorize, license, charge

The citys social leadership commissioned mansions while apartments and hotels began to
sprout on multiple lots.

2. engage
1) v. to take someone on as a worker
2) v. to involve or to occupy
1) employ, hire 2) occupy, absorb

In 1903, the governing board of the University of Washington engaged a firm of landscape
architects.

3. frenetic
adj. wildly excited or active; in an uncontrolled way
frantic, frenzied

Hotels were both creatures and creators of communities as well as symptoms of the frenetic
quest for community.

4. hurl
v. to throw something with force
cast, throw, pitch

Passenger terminals, like the luxury express trains that hurled people over spots, spotlight the
romance of railroading.

5. suspension
n. the act of suspending or the state of being suspended

The George Washington Bridge is a suspension bridge between New York City and Fort Lee,
New Jersey.

6. arbitrary
adj. not based on any principle
capricious, erratic

In constructing the botanical gardens, some arbitrary, practical decisions were made.

7. fringe
n. a border of loose threads on a garment or something else
border, edge, trimming

In terrestrial ecosystems and in fringe marine ecosystems, the most common problem is habitat
destruction.

8. germinate
v. to cause a seed to start growing; to show the first signs of development
sprout

These acorn halves, many of which contain seeds, may later germinate.

9. hack
v. to cut or chop something roughly
hew, slash, slice

What is so worrisome is that acre upon acre of the animals habitat is being hacked to the
ground every day.

10. herbicide
n. a substance used to kill weeds
weed-killer

The herbicides are effective, but some pose serious problems, particularly if misused.

11. scurry
v. to move hurriedly or briskly
hurry, rush, dash

The ducks respond by scurrying to gather around her.

12. inclination
1) n. the degree at which an object slopes away from a vertical line
2) n. a particular tendency
1) tilt, slope 2) disposition, preference

Individual birds have markedly different interests, inclinations, and strategies.

13. infrastructure
n. the basic inner structure of a society, organization, or system
base

They have established another company to help develop the infrastructure of hydrogen
separation and hydrogen supply points.

14. iron out
ph. to solve or get rid of problems or difficulties, especially small ones
resolve, clear up

Until these basic problems are ironed out, hydrogen will not turn into a major source of
energy.

15. lurking
adj. lying in wait, especially in ambush, with some sinister purpose in mind
hiding, sneaking, slinking

Still, there is another predator lurking invisibly in the bodies of water of the world; bacteria.

16. stimulant
n. any substance that produces an increase in particular activity
stimulus, spur, incentive

Occasionally, doctors will provide stimulants, but these can cause addiction and are usually
avoided except in the most extreme cases.

17. stroke
n. a interruption to the supply of blood to the brain, thereby causing unconsciousness
cerebral apoplexy, attack, seizure

If a blood clot goes to the brain, it can cause a stroke or even death.

18. stutter
n. an inability to form words at what is considered a normal speed of speech
stammer, slur

The newest theories on stuttering concentrate on how the brain functions during speech.

19. subconscious
adj. denoting mental processes which a person is not fully aware of
subliminal

Specialists believe stutterers are listening to themselves as they talk but at a subconscious
level of understanding.

20. transfusion
n. the process of introducing blood directly into the bloodstream of a person

You may know that, nowadays, blood transfusions, or the giving of one persons blood to
another, are a common practice.

21. transplanted
adj. having taken a living organ from someone and using it as an implant; having taken a
plant out of the ground and put it in a different place
relocated, uprooted, removed

The immune system takes action against foreign invaders and transplanted tissues that are
treated as foreign cells.

22. equilibrium
n. a state in which various forces balance each other
balance

Illness can result when bodily systems are not in equilibrium.

23. outage
n. a period of time during which a power supply fails to operate
power failure, power cut

The 1979 power outage in New York City caused half of the city to be without electricity for
several hours.

24. infinitesimal
adj. infinitely small; with a value too close to zero to be measured
tiny, minute, slight

A virus is so infinitesimal that it can be seen only with an electron microscope.

25. inert
adj. tending to remain in a state of rest or uniform motion
inactive, inanimate, motionless

These gases include helium, neon, and argon and are called inert because they bond with other
elements only with extreme difficulty.

26. integrity
n. the quality or state of being whole and unimpaired
completeness, entirety, soundness

The colony odor allows ants to identify intruders and to maintain colony integrity.

27. malleable
adj. able to be beaten into a different shape or bent without breaking
flexible, pliable, tractable

The mixture becomes soft and malleable and can be formed into many shapes and sizes.

28. fortuitously
adv. by chance or haphazardly
incidentally, haphazardly, accidentally

On a 1948 vacation, Hazen fortuitously collected a clump of soil from the edge of a cow
pasture in Fauquier County, Virginia.

29. prow
n. the projecting front part of a ship
bow, head

To ensure proper identification, the prows of Viking warships were either adorned with carved
figures or vividly painted.

30. counterpart
n. one of two parts which form a corresponding pair
rival, equivalent, parallel

Digital cameras are likely to replace their traditional counterparts as prices of electronic
components go down.


1. veil
1) n. a fabric covering for a womans head or face
2) v. to cover something
1) cloak, curtain 2) conceal, hide

Eventually, stories arose which explained or veiled the mysteries of the rites.

2. worldly
adj. relating to this world; material, as opposed to spiritual or eternal
earthly, secular, mundane

An elaborate funeral celebration is also important to impress the gods with the individuals
worldly importance and wealth.

3. relent cf. relentlessly
v. to become less severe or unkind
relax, soften

He could have relented, but he decided to attack.

4. sanitation
n. the system that keeps places clean, especially by removing human waste

In Sacramento, an excavation at a site revealed garbage in the building basement despite
sanitation laws to the contrary.

5. scorch
v. to burn or be burned slightly or superficially
char, sear, roast

This timber might be scorched occasionally, but it was far enough in front of the rising column
of heat to be safe from catching fire.

6. stalk
1) v. to walk in a proud proved or angry way and with long steps
2) v. to hunt, follow, or approach stealthily
1) strut, prance 2) chase, hunt

Many accounts say that Genghis Khan stalked and killed his older half-brother.

7. stringent
adj. not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
rigid, strict, inflexible

The archaeologists stated that they have subjected their findings to stringent and numerous
tests.

8. subjugate
v. to dominate someone; to bring someone under control
subdue, suppress, subject

The peoples subjugated by the Nazis labored, sometimes without pay and sometimes for a
pittance.

9. lavish
adj. spending or giving generously
generous, unsparing, open-handed

In most cultures, it is traditional to prepare lavish meals to celebrate holidays.

10. vital
adj. relating to or essential for life; extremely important and necessary
essential, requisite, crucial

From colonial times, sailing ships were vital to the economy.

11. supplant
v. to take the place of someone or something, often by force or unfair means
replace, substitute, supersede

Modern dictators are using art to help their states supplant religion with political myths.

12. frustration cf. frustrate
n. the fact that something is preventing someone from succeeding; the feeling of being
frustrated
prevention, disappointment, dissatisfaction

Expressionist drama often shows the influence of modern psychology by reflecting the inner
frustrations of the dramatist.

13. trace
1) v. to track by following clues
2) n. a sign of presence in a particular place
1) pursue, shadow 2) print, footmark

Another theory traces the theaters origin from the human interest in storytelling.

14. vividly
adv. in a very clear and detailed manner
distinctly, clearly, lively

In his novel The Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane vividly describes a Civil War battle.

15. accomplished
adj. expert or skilled
versed, adept, proficient

An accomplished saxophonist and composer, John Coltrane began his career playing in the
big bands of the early 1950s.

16. subject cf. be subject to
v. to cause something to undergo something unpleasant
expose, submit, lay open

When songs have been subjected to complex processes, their origins are usually impossible to
trace.

17. unadorned
adj. without unnecessary or special features or decorations
undecorated, unornamented, unembellished

Many early jazz bands played unadorned published arrangements of popular songs.

18. inflection
n. a change in the tone or pitch of a voice
accent, intonation

Babies can detect the difference between syllables pronounced with rising and falling
inflections.

19. vary
v. to be different from each other in size, shape, or something else
differ, diverge

In the early days of the United States, postal charges were paid by the recipient, and charges
varied according to the distance carried.

20. apply (to)
v. to use something like a method, idea, or law in a particular situation, activity, or process
use, utilize, employ

This term was usually applied to a fabric of wool and linen used in heavy clothing and quilted
petticoats worn in the wintertime.

21. periphery
n. the edge or boundary of something
perimeter, circumference, rim

Over 100 areas designated as conservation of wildlife preserves exist around the periphery of
the Caribbean Sea.

22. persist
v. to continue with something in spite of resistance and difficulty
continue, preserve, insist

Along with market days, the institution days of twice-yearly fairs persisted in Philadelphia.

23. indigenous
adj. belonging naturally to a country or area
native, local, aboriginal

The indigenous people of Australia were called Aborigines by the English settlers.

24. submission
n. a bending to the authority or control of another
surrender, concession, obedience

Genghis Khan often sent an emissary ahead to a city to ask for its submission.

25. thereby
adv. with the result that something else happens
thus, therefore, hence

Non-Western music typically divides an interval between two pitches more finely than Western
music does, thereby producing a great number of distinct tones, or microtones, within the same
interval.

26. agent
1) n. someone or something that affects or changes a situation
2) n. someone who represents an organization and acts on its behalf
1) factor, means 2) proxy, representative

Organisms must be buried rapidly to escape destruction by the elements and to be protected
from agents of weathering and erosion.

27. trickle
v. to flow in a thin and slow stream or drops
drip, drop, flow

The climate is dry, but tiny streams trickle at the bottom of deeply cut canyons.

28. perishable cf. perish
adj. liable to rot or to go bad quickly

Before refrigerators came into common use, people in rural areas often had a well or a
springhouse to keep perishable foods fresh.

29. preside
v. to take the lead at an event; to be in charge
chair, supervise, oversee

Mr. Kennedy was scheduled to preside at 4 p.m. over a meeting of the National Security
Council.

30. anonymous
adj. having no name; from someone whose name is not known
nameless, incognito, unidentified

The terminology by which artists were described at the time suggests their status: "limner"
was usually applied to anonymous portrait painters up to the 1760s.


1. yield
1) v. to give up or to give in
2) n. the amount of profits or crops that something produces
1) surrender, hand in 2) production, output

Fertilizers can increase farmers yields.

2. allot
v. to give a share of something to each member of a group
allocate, apportion, distribute

Rationing is a system for allotting scarce resources.

3. discriminate
v. to recognize a difference between things; to treat a person or group differently from
another in an unfair way
differentiate, discern, segregate

It is illegal for universities and colleges to discriminate on the basis of sex, religion, or
national origin.

4. lull
v. to make someone relaxed and calm
soothe, calm, tranquilize

Parents often sing to children to lull them to sleep.

5. lure
v. to tempt or to entice, often by the offer of some reward
tempt, attract, seduce

Many adults were lured to the cities by promises of steady employment.

6. mason
n. someone who is skilled in shaping stones for building work
stonecutter

Where stone was the local building material, a mason was sure to appear on the list of people
who paid taxes.

7. merger
n. a joining together, especially of business firms
consolidation, amalgamation, combination

A merger is achieved when a company purchases the property of other firms.

8. mint
v. to manufacture coins
coin

Both the United States silver dollar and half-dollar, first minted in 1794, had the figures of
Liberty on one side and an eagle on the reverse side.

9. ratify
v. to give formal consent to a treaty or agreement
approve, endorse, validate

Congress must write and ratify the declaration much like a law.

10. reverse
v. to move backward or in an opposite direction
invert, transpose, overturn

Today, there is a high demand for people who might be able to control or reverse the aging
process.

11. irrigation
n. the artificial application of water to land
watering

The agricultural potential of the area was enormous if water for irrigation could be found.

12. lineage
n. the way in which members of a family are descended from other members
ancestry, genealogy, bloodline

It can always be proven that the members of a lineage share blood ties.

13. divulge
v. to make something known; to reveal a secret
expose, unveil, disclose

A person who has been accused of a crime cannot be forced to divulge any information that is
self-incriminating.

14. monarchy
n. the system in which a country is ruled by a king or queen
autocracy, absolutism, monocracy

Patrilineal descent is often used in monarchies to determine who has the best claim on the
throne.

15. municipal
adj. relating to or belonging to the local government of a town or region
civic, urban

Water and sewage systems were usually operated by municipal governments.

16. potential
adj. possible or likely, though as yet not tested or actual
possible, dormant, latent

Real estate developers added 800,000 potential building sites to the Chicago region in just
fifty years.

17. precarious
adj. not in complete control of something unsafe
unreliable, perilous, risky

Thousands abandoned their precarious lives on the farm for more secure and better paying
jobs in the city.

18. notoriety cf. notorious
n. the state of being known for something bad or unfavorable
disgrace, dishonor, disrepute

He achieved notoriety as chief counsel to President Nixon during the Watergate break-in.

19. prejudice
n. a biased opinion based on insufficient knowledge
partiality, bias, prejudgment

Ethnic and religious prejudice often influences politics.

20. split
n. a tear or crack in something; a separation or division through disagreement
crack, rift, division

It was the split of eleven southern states from the Union in 1861 that led to the Civil War in the
United States.

21. appliance
n. a piece of equipment, especially something electrical
gadget, contrivance

The electric toaster was one of the earliest appliances to be developed for the kitchen.

22. loom
1) v. to appear in an enlarged form
2) v. to appear important or threatening and likely to happen soon
1) appear, emerge 2) predominate

After the Civil War, financial problems loomed large in both the North and the South.

23. dramatically
adv. forcefully in appearance or effect
sensationally, strikingly, suddenly

Critics argue that urbanization has created many problems and has dramatically decreased
peoples quality of life in cities.

24. snippet
n. a scrap of information, news, or something else
snatch, extract

In snippets, politicians assert but do not argue.

25. superintendent
n. someone whose job is to manage a department
supervisor, overseer, foreman

She served as the superintendent of a group of hospital nurses for the federal government.

26. pertinent
adj. relating to or concerned with something
appropriate, pertaining, relevant

It is an ability to ask pertinent questions, recognize defensible answers, and reject spurious or
irrelevant ones.

27. trigger
v. to pull a trigger or detonating device; to start a train of events
activate, propel, spark

A sense of danger nearby, whether real or imagined, triggers various reactions in the body.

28. cursive
adj. having letters which are joined rather than printed separately
flowing, running

The children moved from writing in block capital letters to cursive script.

29. rank
1) v. to have a particular status in relation to others
2) n. a position of seniority within an organization
1) rate, grade 2) status, standing

Despite its greater number of dead, the Russian effort ranks second place to the American
effort during World War II.

30. preoccupied
adj. lost in thought and unaware of ones surroundings or actions
engrossed, absorbed, rapt

People were becoming more and more preoccupied with their own lives.


1. descend
v. to go or move down from a higher to a lower position
get down, decline, slope

Smokejumpers are firefighters who descend into remote areas by parachute to fight forest fires.

2. inexorable
adj. incapable of being made to change a position; unrelenting
unavoidable, inevitable, merciless

A glaciers process is slow but inexorable.

3. docket
n. any label accompanying a package; a list of things to be done
tag, timetable, agenda

The moon is already on NASAs docket for further exploration within the next couple of
decades.

4. commence
v. to begin or start something
begin, initiate, launch

The Space Age commenced in October 1957 when Sputnik was launched by the Soviet Union.

5. entity
n. something that has a physical existence as opposed to a quality or mood

being, object, thing

But none of the shapes on the list describes the largest single entities in the universe.

6. extract
v. to pull or draw something out, especially by force or with effort
extricate, pull, derive

Hydrogen can be extracted from water sources and used as fuel.

7. rear
n. the back of something, as distinguished from the front
back, end, hind part

As the cat rotates the front of its body clockwise, its rear and tail twist counterclockwise so
that the total spin remains zero.

8. intense
adj. very great or extreme, especially in quality or feeling
powerful, severe, extreme

A laser uses a synthetic ruby to concentrate light into an extremely intense high-energy beam.

9. plate
n. a thin and flat piece of metal; any of the rigid sections that make up the Earths crust
panel, layer

They can measure the movement of the plates but not when they will spawn an earthquake.

10. kinetic
adj. relating to or producing motion
motive

When each fragment slammed into the atmosphere, its immense kinetic energy was
transformed into heat.

11. lubricant
n. oil, grease, or something else used to reduce friction

Subglacial streams of meltwater might act as a lubricant , allowing the glacier to flow rapidly
toward the sea.

12. extend
v. to make something longer or larger
stretch, elongate, broaden

The evaporated water is replaced by water moving from inside the plant in unbroken columns
that extend from the top of a plant to its roots.

13. cast off
ph. to remove something or someone that becomes unnecessary
throw off, shed

When attacked, the sea cucumber also casts off attached structures such as tentacles.

14. colony
1) n. an area under the political control of a distant country
2) n. a group of the same kind of animals or plants
1) settlement 2) community

When it comes to ant colonies, certain kinds of ants are divided into highly specialized
positions.

15. porous
adj. referring or relating to a material that contains pores or cavities
spongy, permeable, pervious

Porous rocks such as chalk and sandstone allow water to soak through them.

16. discard
v. to get rid of something as useless or unwanted
dispense with, dispose of, abandon

Using its bill and tongue, the bird cracks open and discards the woody seed covering and
swallows the nutritious inner kernel.

17. counteract
v. to reduce or prevent the effect of something
counterbalance, neutralize, nullify

Increased protection by the mass roots is counteracted since they attract predators and are
vulnerable if they are on the ground.

18. parasite
n. a plant or animal that lives on or in other living things
hanger-on, freeloader

Perhaps the most straightforward dependence of one species on another occurs with parasites
.

19. peculiar
adj. strange or unusual, especially in a way that is unpleasant or worrying
odd, weird, quaint

All birds have wings, too, but wings are not peculiar to birds.

20. predator
n. any animal that obtains food by eating other animals

Fish are not the only predators of menhaden as birds also depend on them as a source of
nourishment.

21. dwindle
v. to shrink in size, number, or intensity
decrease, diminish, reduce

The amount of open space has dwindled as more and more land is developed.

22. application
n. the act of using something for a particular purpose
utilization, operation, use

The applications of GPS are wide-ranging.

23. primate
n. a member of the group of animals that includes humans and monkeys

Their astonishing research reveals that these primates exhibit numerous highly developed
physical as well as mental characteristics.

24. pry
v. to move, raise, or open by leverage
lever, jimmy, prize

Squirrels pry off the caps of acorns and bite through the shells to get at the inner kernels.

25. benign
adj. kind and gentle; not dangerous or likely to cause death
gentle, mild, nonfatal

Following the early Proterozoic, the climate appears to have been fairly benign for a very
long time.

26. hydraulic
adj. moved or operated by the pressure of water or other liquid

Hydraulic elevators are still used in some old buildings, but almost all new buildings are
equipped with electrical elevators.

27. discrete
adj. separate and distinct from each other
separate, individual, disconnected

By such ingenious adaptations to specific pollinators, orchids have avoided the hazards of
rampant crossbreeding in the wild, assuring the survival of species as discrete identities.

28. quarry
v. to dig stone or sand from a quarry
mine, extract

One of the latest methods of quarrying stone is cutting the stone with a jet torch.

29. scuff
v. to brush, graze, or scrape, especially shoes or heels while walking
scrape, abrade

Caves are usually created by carbonate acid trickling down, but the cave was scuffed out by
powerful acid that rose from below.

30. sediment
n. solid particles that have settled at the bottom of a liquid
deposit, grounds, remains

A delta can build up for many centuries, and, if there is enough sediment, it can produce
islands.


1. adjoin
v. to be next to; to be contiguous to
neighbor, abut, border

Their rooms on upper floors could be entered both by doorways from adjoining rooms and by a
hole in the ceiling.

2. cluster
1) n. a small group or gathering
2) v. to form into a cluster or clusters
1) collection, bunch 2) gather

The motels clustered along transcontinental highways such as U.S. Routes 40 and 66.

3. lug
n. a part of something that sticks out and can be used as a handle or a support
grip, handle

Wood from a freshly cut tree was used for the lug pole, so it would resist heat.

4. sumptuous
adj. very impressive and expensive
costly, expensive, luxurious

These who could afford the buildings were quite content to live in the more sumptuous, singlefamily homes.

5. motif
1) n. an idea or subject repeated throughout a work
2) n. a single design
1) theme, topic 2) pattern, figure

Stone carvers engraved motifs of skulls and crossbones and other religious icons of death into
the tombstones in old burial grounds.

6. aerial
adj. relating to or found in the air; from a plane

An aerial view of the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic shows a remarkable
sight.

7. mar
v. to spoil something; to make something less attractive or enjoyable
damage, spoil, impair

Marring our gardens is one of the milder effects of weeds.

8. pneumatic
adj. filled with air; worked by air pressure

Compressed air provides the power to drive pneumatic tools.

9. paucity
n. less than is needed of something
lack, shortage, scarcity

Because of skyrocketing populations and the paucity of housing in many regions of Africa,
developers are cutting back the jungle.

10. perpetuation
n. an endless existence for an indefinite period of time
continuance, eternity, immortality

Migration is the second major hurdle the whooping crane and conservationists alike needed to
overcome in order to secure the birds perpetuation.

11. pesky
adj. annoying
troublesome, bothersome, disturbing

Are squirrels dispersers and planters of oak forests or pesky seed predators?

12. pillage
v. to steal things from a place or region, especially in a war, by using violence
loot, plunder

Once the eggs were pillaged from nests, future generations became placed even more in
jeopardy.

13. pollutant cf. pollute
n. any substance or agent that pollutes
adulterant, contaminant, impurity

In the future, even water vapor might be considered an air pollutant under certain conditions.

14. proliferate
v. to reproduce rapidly; to increase in number
grow, increase, multiply

The species will continue to expand and to proliferate in most regions of the world.

15. purification cf. purify
n. the act or an instance of cleansing or purifying
cleansing, sanctification

Human output may temporarily overload the natural purification scheme of the cycle.

16. fracture
n. a crack or broken part in a bone or other hard substance
break, breakage

We are able to repair damage such as bone fractures and injuries to the skin and muscles.

17. cranial
adj. relating to or in the region of the skull

The peripheral nervous system is responsible for controlling cranial, spinal, and autonomic
nerves.

18. dissection
n. the separation and identification of the parts of a whole
breakdown, anatomizing

Early studies of anatomy were hampered by the authorities disapproval of dissections, and by
the lack of refrigeration.

19. vein
n. one of the tubes which carries blood to the heart from other parts of a body

Cholesterol tends to get built up as excess residue in the arteries and veins of the body.

20. champion
v. to strongly support or defend a person or cause
advocate, back, support

For many years, doctors have championed the view that cholesterol is a dangerous substance.

21. acupuncture
n. a treatment for pain and disease that involves pushing special needles into parts of the body

Two of the most popular forms of alternative therapies in the West today are acupuncture and
herbal medicine.

22. appendage
n. anything added or attached to a larger or more important part
accessory, attachment, addition

The muscles are responsible for the actual, physical movement of our limbs and appendages.

23. artery
n. one of the tubes that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body

The pulmonary artery carries blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs.

24. complication
n. a second disease that arises as a result of an existing one

A painful complication of diabetes may be caused by an underproduction of a hormone that
nourishes and maintains the bodys nervous system.

25. microbe
n. an extremely small living thing that can only be seen under a microscope and that may
cause diseases
microorganism, germ

When fish populations become depleted due to factors like overfishing, microbes such as algae
expand and threaten the fragile ecosystems of the ocean.

26. resin
n. a thick and sticky liquid that comes out of some trees

Amber is a hard, yellow-brown substance formed from the resin of pine trees that lived
millions of years ago.

27. saturated
adj. extremely wet; containing as much of a solute as can be dissolved
drenched, soaked

All fats are combinations of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.

28. treble
v. to become three times as much or as many
triple, threefold

A baby usually doubles his birth weight at the end of four months and trebles it at the end of
one year.

29. summon
v. to order someone to come to a place
call, assemble, convene

Ultrasonic whistles, which cannot be heard by human beings, are audible to dogs and are used
to summon them.

30. helical cf. helix
adj. relating to or like a helix
spiral, coiling, screwlike

Franklin used the technique known as X-ray crystallography to show that DNA has a helical,
or spiral, shape.


1. maritime
adj. connected with the sea in relation to navigation; pertaining to the sea
marine, nautical, oceanic

The Native American people of the north Pacific Coast created a highly complex maritime
culture.

2. jolly
adj. good-humored; pleasant and enjoyable
joyful, cheerful, merry

The jolly character Falstaff is one of Shakespeares finest comic creations.

3. shun
v. to intentionally avoid or keep away from someone or something
avoid, eschew, stay away from

The Shakers were a strict religious group that shunned all types of pleasure.

4. envision
v. to picture mentally some future events
envisage, imagine, visualize

Before hunting, hunters would draw and study migrating animals and envision having a
successful hunt.

5. depict
v. to describe something or someone in writing or to show someone or something in a
painting
describe, characterize, picture

In their novels, Joel Chandler Harris and Ellen Glasgow depicted life in the South.

6. tremendously
adv. greatly in size, amount, or intensity
enormously, vastly, utterly

During the Great Depression, the economy suffered tremendously.

7. vigorous
adj. strong and active
brisk, dynamic, energetic

The Board of Health took vigorous measures to bring the tenement houses of New York up to
the best sanitary condition.

8. vocalize
v. to utter or produce something with the voice
articulate, verbalize, speak

The Malcolm X march has often been used as an outlet to vocalize discontent over the
development of Harlem.

9. puzzling
adj. confusing and difficult to understand or explain
baffling, perplexing, bewildering

Sherlock Holmes, a fictional detective, solved many puzzling crimes.

10. usher
v. to escort someone into a place
guide, direct, lead

In 1839, the daguerreotype was introduced to America, ushering in the age of photography.

11. complement
1) v. to make up a lack of something
2) n. something that completes or perfects another
1) complete, enhance 2) supplement

Movie directors use music to complement the action on the screen.

12. eerie
adj. strange and disturbing or frightening
uncanny, weird, creepy

The writer H.P. Lovecraft wrote many eerie stories about the supernatural.

13. entice
v. to tempt by arousing hopes or desires or by promising a reward
seduce, lure, tempt

Vance Packards book, The Hidden Persuaders deals with the tactics advertisers use to entice
consumers.

14. jargon
n. the specialized vocabulary of a particular profession
argot, cant, lingo

Technical jargons greatly accelerate changes in usage, often blurring the definitions of words
and fracturing the grammatical rules of purists.

15. roll back
ph. to return to a lower level of prices, wages, or something else

In 1979, Santa Monicas municipal government ordered landlords to roll back their rents to the
levels charged in 1978.

16. maintenance
n. the process of keeping something in good condition
continuance, persistence

Rental prices promote the efficient maintenance of existing housing and stimulate the
construction of new housing.

17. kiln
n. a heated oven or furnace used for drying or for firing something
furnace, oven

More and more large kilns were built to create the high-fired stoneware.

18. carve
v. to cut wood, stone, or something else into a shape
hew, sculpt, engrave

Sculptors use hammers and chisels to carve statues out of stone.

19. rehearse
v. to practice something before performing it in front of an audience
exercise, practice

Musicians have to rehearse before performing.

20. time-wise
adv. with regard to time

Because the railroad was more efficient and reliable time-wise, it quickly became the
dominant mode of transportation.

21. mythology
n. ancient myths in general
folklore, lore, stories

In the seventh and sixth centuries, potters depicted episodes from mythology and ancient
Greek heroic narratives.

22. deteriorate
v. to grow worse
worsen, degrade

Fired clay does not deteriorate over time.

23. homage
n. a display of great respect toward someone
respect, admiration, esteem

The priests transcribed their homage in Egyptian and Greek using the three prevailing scripts
of the day.

24. carcass
n. the dead body of an animal
corpse, remains

An important function of early stone tools was to extract highly nutritious food from large
animal carcasses.

25. tactics
n. the art or science of disposing military forces for battle
maneuvers, strategy, plans

It is a reflection of the American and Russian commanders battle tactics, with the former
being more concerned with saving lives.

26. cathartic
adj. helping someone to remove strong or violent emotions
purgative, cleansing

Through songs and the oral tradition, slaves were able to be free in a sense, which became
cathartic for them.

27. logistical
adj. relating to supplies carried by an army

A great logistical effort was required to support both its own forces and those of many other
nations.

28. spectacular
adj. impressively striking to see or watch
dramatic, splendid, sensational

D.W. Griffith was the first director of spectacular films. There were movies made on a colossal
scale.

29. unravel
v. to separate the strands of a knitted fabric; to explain something that is mysterious or
complicated
untwine, untangle, solve

The pots history, manufacture, cultural context, economic role, and ornamental use are all
points of information one hopes to unravel.

30. obscure
adj. not clearly understood or expressed
uncertain, confusing, ambiguous

The poetry of Ezra Pound is sometimes difficult to understand because it contains so many
obscure references.


1. preach
v. to deliver a sermon as part of a religious service; to talk about something in order to
persuade people to accept it
evangelize, sermonize, urge

Before the Great Depression, classical economics preached the theory of laissez-faire.

2. abound
v. to present in large numbers
teem, overflow

All sorts of fine trees were abounded, and those who pushed westward encountered new forests
as well.

3. accelerate
v. to increase the speed of something
hasten, quicken, speed

The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 accelerated the development of commerce on the Great
Lakes.

4. pastoral
adj. relating to the countryside or country life
rustic, rural, provincial

Some hunters and gatherers continued the old pastoral and nomadic ways.

5. plush
adj. expensively or showily luxurious
luxurious, opulent, lavish

The accommodations were by no means plush.

6. shrewd
adj. possessing or showing keen judgment gained from practical experience
astute, clever, sharp

A shrewd businesswoman, Oprah has inspired trends in the marketplace simply by mentioning
a product on the air.

7. stabilize
v. to make or become firm or steady
balance, steady, fix

The International Monetary Fund was created to stabilize exchange rates without interfering
with the growth of trade.

8. rejuvenate
v. to make someone feel young again
reinvigorate, renew, revitalize

Music can help to rejuvenate or soothe the patient.

9. vying cf. vie
adj. competing with someone for some gain or advantage
competing, contending, struggling

In the 1880s, five railroads were vying for traffic between New York and Chicago.

10. abolish
v. to put an end to customs, laws, or something else
eliminate, terminate, obliterate

In 1864, the House resumed the consideration of the constitutional amendment to abolish
slavery.

11. precursor
n. something that comes before another and leads to it
forerunner, harbinger, herald

The icebox was a precursor of the modern refrigerator.

12. uncanny
adj. having a supernatural or inexplicable basis; beyond the ordinary
supernatural, unnatural, unaccountable

Abraham Maslow possessed an uncanny intelligence that put him in the company of the
greatest social thinkers of the day.

13. reciprocal
adj. giving and receiving or given and received
mutual, complementary, shared

The reciprocal relationship ensured that all would have a means of survival.

14. replicate
v. to reproduce or copy something exactly
copy, duplicate, transcribe

Researchers make tools that replicate excavated specimens as closely as possible.

15. revolt
1) v. to rise up against a government
2) v. to provoke a feeling of disgust
1) rebel, mutiny 2) disgust, offend

While infanticide may revolt the vast majority of people, it has its purpose within the animal
kingdom.

16. gratify
v. to give pleasure to a person by satisfying desires
please, satisfy, delight

He observed that individuals whose basic needs had been gratified performed differently from
dissatisfied people.

17. sire
v. to be a father of young
father, generate, create

Among some species, males that take over a group of females kill every child sired by the other
males.

18. upheaval
n. a strong or violent change or disturbance, as in a society
upset, disruption, disturbance

Political discontent arises when existing political parties fail to give voice to those frustrated
by social upheavals.

19. aspiration
n. a strong desire for high achievement
ambition, dream, yearning

In addition to his political aspirations, he served as the leader of the Green Mountain Boys.

20. coordinate
v. to integrate and adjust a number of different parts or processes
systematize, organize, harmonize

Political parties help to coordinate the campaigns of their members.

21. union
n. an association, confederation, or group of people united for a common goal; a trade union
alliance, coalition, league

In 1886, many national unions formed the American Federation of Labor under the leadership
of Samuel Gompers.

22. autocratic
adj. pertaining to autocracy or exercising power or authority without interference by others
tyrannical, despotic, dictatorial

An autocratic ruler who serves his people well is sometimes called a benevolent dictator.

23. lucid
adj. bright or shining; clearly presented and easily understood
luminous, distinct, clear

Julius Caesar is known for his political skills and for his lucid, informative writing.

24. morale
n. the level of confidence or optimism in a person or group
spirit, confidence, self-esteem

The USO is a service organization that entertains U.S. troops and improves their morale.

25. substantially
adv. in real worth, value, or effect
actually, practically, virtually

The effect of advertising increased substantially as ads for products like coffee, tea, and
chocolate appeared in newspapers.

26. dogma
n. a belief or principle laid down by an authority as unquestionably true
creed, doctrine, tenet

The experiments with the animals eroded the behaviorist dogma that only humans have minds.

27. endow
v. to provide a source of income for an organization
donate, grant, contribute

Massachusetts used much of its funds to endow the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

28. inevitably
adv. without possibility of escape
inescapably, unavoidably, certainly

The focus of educators inevitably turned toward the lower grades and back to basic academic
skills and discipline.

29. wharf
n. a landing-stage built along a waterfront for loading and unloading vessels
pier, dock

The largest companies have fired many employees, and many of their vessels sit idle at the
wharf.

30. arable
adj. suitable or used for plowing and growing crops

Land refers to all natural resources usable in the production process: arable land, forests, and
so on.


1. arid
adj. having so little rain as to be very dry and unproductive
desert, dry, torrid

Southern Arizona has an arid climate, and there are some deserts.

2. precipitation
n. water that falls from clouds in the atmosphere to the Earths surface
rainfall, shower, downpour

Deserts are regions that receive less than 25 centimeters of annual precipitation.

3. rim
n. the outside edge or border of, especially a round object
edge, brim, border

The totally eclipsed moon will appear to have a bright rim along its southern edge.

4. incinerate
v. to burn or reduce to ashes
burn

The asteroid impact caused an explosion that quickly expanded as each icy mass incinerated
itself.

5. inhospitable
adj. not friendly or welcoming to others

unwelcoming, unfriendly, unfavorable

According to the evidence gathered by space probes and astronomers, Mars is an inhospitable
planet.

6. intensity
n. the quality or state of being intense
power, strength, forcefulness

The habitable zone is the region 75 to 140 million miles away from a star with the intensity of
our sun.

7. lethal
adj. causing or enough to cause death
fatal, mortal, deadly

Mars has no ozone layer to screen out the suns lethal radiation.

8. ambient
adj. relating to the surrounding area
surrounding

The report, which was prepared for the Environmental Protection Agency, stated that the level
of lead in ambient air poses a significant threat to infants.

9. acidic
adj. like, or containing, acid; very sour
sour, tart

Rain is slightly acidic even in unpolluted air.

10. ominous
adj. containing a warning of something evil or bad that will happen
foreboding, sinister

The black clouds of a gathering thunderstorm look quite ominous.

11. radiation
n. the energy in the form of heat or light that is sent out as waves
emission, emanation, diffusion

The nuclear chamber continues to smolder and to emit harmful radiation into the air and
water.

12. resonance
n. the sound produced in an object by sound of a similar frequency from another object
vibration, echo, reverberation

The musical tone of an electric guitar is created not by the resonance of the body of the guitar
but by electronic amplification.

13. aggression
n. the act or tendency of attacking another person or country without being provoked
attack, belligerence, hostility

Within this colony, there is little aggression among ants from different nests.

14. speculate
v. to consider the possibilities regarding something

postulate, hypothesize, conjecture

Experts have speculated that there may have been a cycle of dry and wet seasons.

15. bizarre
adj. weirdly odd or strange
odd, peculiar, weird

What else can be said about the bizarre animal that eats mud is that it feeds almost
continuously day and night.

16. carnivore
n. an animal that feeds mainly on the flesh of other animals

Our image of dinosaurs is either of massive herbivores like the Brontosaurus or of carnivores
such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

17. torque
n. the measured ability of a rotating element to overcome turning resistance

While nobody can acquire spin without torque, a flexible one, like a cat, can readily change its
orientation.

18. scale
1) v. to climb up
2) n. an extent or level relative to others
1) ascend, mount 2) range, scope

One of the most popular peaks for mountain climbers to scale is El Capitan in Yosemite
National Park.

19. scavenger
n. a person or animal that searches among waste for usable items or food
prowler

Like vultures, condors are scavengers, so they eat animals that are already dead.

20. blistering
adj. viciously angry and aggressive
harsh, critical

Its climate, despite more than 50 inches of annual rainfall, is blistering.

21. untamed cf. tame
adj. undomesticated or uncultivated
unsubdued, savage, wild

Hawaiis variety of untamed volcanic ranges and pristine beaches attracts many tourists who
enjoy the diverse wilderness.

22. accessible
adj. able to be reached easily
approachable, attainable, available

Rivers also reveal clay along their banks, and erosion on a hillside may make the clay easily
accessible.

23. apparatus
n. the equipment needed for a specified purpose

device, gear, machine

Though delicate apparatuses are used, volcanoes have been great mysteries.

24. sieve
1) n. a utensil with a meshed or perforated bottom
2) v. to strain or sift with a sieve
1) mesh, net 2) filter, screen

Clay is far too small to sieve accurately.

25. scourge
n. a cause of great suffering and affliction
affliction, misery, plague

With their ability to disseminate numerous seeds quickly, weeds soon became the scourge of
the prairies.

26. skim
v. to remove floating matter from the surface of a liquid
cream, scoop, take off

The bubbles rose to the surface with the mineral particles attached, and they were skimmed.

27. trench
n. a long and narrow ditch in the ground
channel, furrow, pit

The trenchers, which are complex machines that dig the trench for the cable, lay it in the
correct position and then bury it.

28. thruster
n. a rocket attached to a spacecraft used to control its attitude

In the back of the trencher, it contains ten fan thrusters that propel it through the water.

29. accumulate
v. to collect or gather something in an increasing quantity
amass, stock, pile up

There seem to have been several periods when water accumulated in these basins.

30. homogeneous
adj. made up of elements that are all of the same kind or nature
uniform, consistent, identical

Railroads have made the people of the United States homogeneous and have broken through
the peculiarities and provincialisms.


1. reorient cf. orient
v. to set or arrange in a new or different determinate position
modify

Railroads reshaped the North American environment and reoriented North American behavior.

2. deciduous
adj. involving plants which shed all their leaves at a certain time of year

This pest defoliates ornamental trees such as deciduous oaks.

3. expedient
adj. useful or helpful for a purpose
beneficial, effective, practical

He felt that there must be a more expedient way to send messages.

4. stake
1) n. an interest, especially a financial one
2) n. a sum of money risked in betting
1) interest, share 2) bet

Holding a large stake in the community, nineteenth-century American hotelkeepers exercised
power to make it prosper.

5. adverse
adj. going against; unfavorable to ones interests

contrary, negative, hostile

Penicillin can have an adverse effect on a person who is allergic to it.

6. replenish
v. to fill up or make complete again
refill, restock, restore

There is no easy source of hydrogen to replenish the supply.

7. resilient
adj. able to recover quickly
elastic, flexible, springy

By ridding the ocean of weaker fish, predators allow the stronger ones to multiply, making
their species more resilient.

8. sanctuary
1) n. a holy or sacred place, like a church or temple
2) n. an area for birds or animals where they cannot be hunted
1) sanctum, shrine 2) reservation

The designation of a marine sanctuary indicates that it is a protected area, just as a national
park is.

9. sedentary
adj. involving much sitting; not moving from one place to another
seated, stationary, unmoving

Aphids are particularly vulnerable to predators because of their gregarious habits and
sedentary nature.

10. stagnant
adj. not flowing; not developing or growing
motionless, standing, stale

A cupful of stagnant water may contain millions of microorganisms.

11. suffocate
v. to kill or be killed by a lack of air
choke, stifle

If the bacteria are not kept in check, they could suffocate the oceans.

12. nemesis
n. a person or thing that causes serious harm as punishment
enemy, foe, rival

He believed AIDS is our collective nemesis.

13. hatch
v. to break out of an egg; to produce young animals from eggs
breed, incubate, brood

Female sea turtles swim as much as 2,000 kilometers to return to the beaches where they were
hatched.

14. surrender
v. to admit defeat by giving oneself up to an enemy

give up, concede, yield

The military was charged with defending the nations forests and had orders to kill illegal
loggers who did not surrender.

15. symbiotic
adj. relating to a relationship in which organisms, people, or living things involved depend
on each other

A symbiotic relationship is when two organisms of different species work together and each
benefit from the relationship.

16. glucose
n. a natural form of sugar found in fruit and used in the body

Glucose does not have to be digested, so it can be put directly into the bloodstream.

17. prosthetic
adj. relating to a device that substitutes for or supplements a missing or defective part of the
body

A prosthetic leg enables a person to function without the assistance of a wheelchair or
crutches.

18. amnesia
n. a loss of memory, either in part or completely
forgetfulness

In cases of a minor injury to the brain, amnesia is likely to be a temporary condition.

19. analgesic
n. a remedy that relieves or allays pain
painkiller

Analgesics are used to relieve pain and reduce fever.

20. antibiotic
n. a substance like penicillin which is used in the treatment of bacterial infections

Fungi are the source of many of the most potent antibiotics used in clinical medicine,
including penicillin.

21. hypnosis
n. an induced sleeplike state in which a person is deeply relaxed
hypnotism, mesmerism

Hypnosis is sometimes employed as a means of helping people to quit smoking.

22. insomnia
n. a condition where the individual has trouble falling asleep or wakes up repeatedly during
the night
sleeplessness, wakefulness

The causes of insomnia are usually psychological in the form of stress, depression, and too
much worrying.

23. terminology
n. the words and phrases used in a particular subject or field
jargon, lingo, argot

In very loose terminology, the right hemisphere of the brain controls the left side of the body.

24. ulcer
n. a sore place appearing on the skin inside or outside the body which may bleed or produce
poisonous matter
sore, abscess, canker

People with ulcers must eat bland foods.

25. secrete
v. to form and release a substance
release, ooze, exude

Pheromones are secreted to the outside of the body and cause other individuals to have
specific reactions.

26. volatility
n. the property of changing readily from a solid or liquid to a vapor

The chemical signal can be persistent depending upon the volatility of the chemical.

27. weld
v. to join two pieces of metal; to unite something together firmly
join, unite, combine

There are two gas tanks connected to the welding equipment; one is full of oxygen, and the
other is full of acetylene.

28. streamlined
adj. designed to offer the least possible resistance; optimally shaped
hydrodynamic, aerodynamic, efficient

The challenge is to build a wing streamlined enough to fly at high speeds for long distances.

29. revolutionize
v. to bring about revolution; to change dramatically

Iron production was revolutionized in the early eighteenth century when coke was first used
instead of charcoal for refining iron ore.

30. serene
adj. calm and composed
tranquil, peaceful, pacific

The architects emphasized the need for natural, serene settings where hurried urban dwellers
could periodically escape from the city.


1. subsidize
v. to provide or support with a subsidy
finance, fund, sponsor

One award subsidizes a promising American writers visit to Rome.

2. utter
1) adj. having no exceptions or restrictions
2) v. to express a thought or emotion in words
1) complete, thorough 2) state

This movie illustrates peoples utter helplessness in the face of machines meant to serve their
basic needs.

3. article
1) n. an object
2) n. a short written composition in a newspaper
1) item 2) essay, report

The Pomo people used four distinct variations on the basic twining process, often employing
more than one of them in a single article.

4. convergence
n. the coming together of two or more things to the same point
confluence, conjunction, meeting

From this unity created by the convergence of artists from various social and geographical
backgrounds came a new spirit.

5. hilarious
adj. very funny or humorous
amusing, comical, merry

Shirley Jacksons sometimes chilling, sometimes hilarious stories were largely ignored by
critics when they were published.

6. jester
n. a colorfully-dressed professional clown
clown, joker

This funny costume reminds you of a jester or even a woman.

7. puppet
n. a type of doll that can be operated by strings or sticks
marionette

Music based on Indonesian music was used in the shadow puppet theater of that region.

8. memoir
n. a record of events written by a person having knowledge of them
biography, life, reminiscence

A memoir is restricted in scope, and it is usually shorter than an autobiography.

9. obscenity cf. obscene
n. the state or quality of being obscene
bawdiness, vulgarity, filthiness

Also influential was a novel by Williams S. Burroughs, Naked Lunch, which also survived an
obscenity trial.

10. prosaic
adj. not poetic; boring or ordinary
unimaginative, common, routine

For babies, language is a sensory-motor delight rather than the route to prosaic meaning that
it often is for adults.

11. auditory
adj. referring to hearing or the organs involved in hearing
acoustic, aural, auricular

Babies responses to the sound of the human voice are different from their responses to other
sorts of auditory stimuli.

12. utensil
n. an implement or tool, especially one for everyday or domestic use
tool, implement, device

The fork has been used as an eating utensil at least since the twelfth century.

13. cumbersome
adj. difficult to use or operate, especially because of size, weight, or design
awkward, clumsy, unhandy

As a part of a cumbersome process, a pit was dug, and a platform was set up across it.

14. strategic
adj. done as a part of a plan, especially in a military or business
tactical

Another area to take into consideration was the strategic bombing campaign.

15. coarse
adj. of low quality; not having a level or smooth surface
crude, inferior, rough

The Egyptians made coarse fibers by 1600 B.C., and fibers survived as decorations on
Egyptian pottery dating back to 1375 B.C.

16. infiltrate
v. to filter something like a liquid; to pass into a territory
insinuate, permeate, sneak

Using the cover of darkness, the soldiers infiltrated the enemys defenses.

17. niche
n. a shallow recess suitable for a thing; a position in life in which one feels fulfilled
alcove, hollow, place

The archaeological site contained niches for ceremonial objects and a central fire pit.

18. eccentricity
n. an odd or peculiar habit
unusualness, strangeness, peculiarity

Playwright Oscar Wilde distinguished himself for his wit and eccentricity in dress, taste, and
manners.

19. rote
n. the mechanical use of the memory to perform something without thinking
memory

John Dewey strongly believed that children should not be taught by rote.

20. shard
n. a fragment of something brittle
chip, fragment, piece

By digging up different shards from different stratum layers, archaeologists can easily date the
stages of a cultures development.

21. chronicle
v. to record historical events in the order in which they occurred
record, list, document

The book vividly chronicled the writers struggle to overcome alcoholism.

22. libation
n. a liquid suitable for drinking; the pouring of wine or something else in honor of a god
drink

Large quantities of food and libations are consumed during the festivities.

23. figurine
n. a small carved or molded figure
figure, statuette

At the archaeological site, there were many poor-quality figurines and painted pots produced
in quantity by easy, inexpensive means.

24. conventional
adj. conforming to established practice or accepted standards
customary, traditional, ordinary

The European influences on jazz can be heard in its use of such conventional instruments as
the trumpet, string bass, and piano.

25. betray
v. to be disloyal or unfaithful to
sell out, let down, fail

Arthur Millers masterpiece, Death of Salesman, is the tragic story of a salesman betrayed by
his own hollow values.

26. sentiment
n. a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation
feeling, emotion

Modern Times does accurately reflect the sentiments of many who feel they are victims of an
over-mechanized world.

27. dilapidated
adj. falling to pieces because of neglect or age; in great need of repair
ruined, destroyed, broken-down

These painters usually chose subjects that were interesting only because they were so
ordinary; a closed-down gas station, an old man waiting for a bus, a dilapidated billboard.

28. aviation
n. the science of mechanical flight through the air; the industry that makes aircraft
aeronautics

Charles Lindberghs first transatlantic flight opened a whole new world of possibilities for
aviation, especially commercial aviation.

29. pluck
v. to pull out something with ones fingers; to sound the strings of a violin or something else
using the fingers
pick, extract, draw out

The harp is a stringed musical instrument of ancient origin, and its strings are plucked by the
fingers.

30. decode cf. encode
v. to translate a coded message into ordinary language
decipher, interpret

In order to decode Egyptian numerals, long stretches of symbol groupings had to be sorted out
and added together.


1. pivotal
adj. constructed as or acting like a pivot; crucially important
central, vital, crucial

The development of steam engines played a pivotal role in the spread of the factory system.

2. barter
1) n. a trade by exchanging goods rather than by selling them for money
2) v. to trade or exchange goods or services without using money
1) trade 2) exchange, bargain

Before currency came into use, people used the barter system to exchange goods directly for
goods.

3. lay off
ph. to stop employing someone because there is no work for that person to do
dismiss, sack

The Brindley Corporation had to lay off ten percent of its employees due to decreased sales.

4. reprieve
n. a delay or cancellation of someones punishment
postponement, suspension

To famers, factories offered a reprieve from the backbreaking work and financial
unpredictability associated with farming.

5. juggernaut
n. a mighty force sweeping away and destroying everything in its path

They were the juggernauts of the sky and by far the largest commercial planes of their day.

6. per capita
ph. by or for each individual person
per head, per each person

Fifteen hundred dollars a year was the per capita income in the United States in 1950.

7. arduous
adj. needing a lot of work, effort, or energy
hard, laborious, exhausting

Mountain climbing is an arduous sport.

8. frivolous
adj. not sufficiently serious; silly or amusing
insignificant, trivial, childish

He was frustrated because his boss assigned him some frivolous work.

9. consistent
adj. in agreement with something; in keeping with something
conforming, accordant, constant

Decades of research have failed to produce consistent evidence.

10. subdue
v. to overpower and bring under control; to reduce in intensity
conquer, suppress, quell

Policemen armed with riot shields and batons were called in to subdue the angry soccer fans.

11. patent
1) n. a sole right to make and sell a particular article
2) v. to obtain a patent for an invention

Barbed wire, first patented in the United States in 1867, played an important part in the
development of American farming.

12. strain
n. a type of animal, plant, or disease
family, bloodline, race

The second strain was the pneumonic plague, which was probably a mutation of the bubonic
plague.

13. abortion
n. the deliberate ending of a pregnancy at an early stage
termination

In some societies like China, with its one-child policy, the preference for sons is a driving
reason for abortion.

14. census
n. an official count of a population carried out at periodic intervals
poll

The United States census for 1970 showed that the French-speaking residents of Louisiana
were one of the countrys most compact regional linguistic minorities.

15. locale
n. the scene of some event or occurrence
site, location, spot

The information on the alarm pertained to the locale in which it would be used.

16. ovulate
v. to release an ovum or egg cell from the ovary

During estrus, a female is ovulating and can become pregnant.

17. put down
1) ph. to criticize someone to make that person feel silly
2) ph. to stop a revolution or something else by using force
1) belittle, insult 2) overpower, suppress

The leaders put down a rebellion in their country by appeasing the different groups.

18. falter
v. to move unsteadily; to become weaker
totter, stumble, weaken

After starting out in the lead, he began to falter near the finish line.

19. federal
adj. belonging to a country consisting of a group of states

The federal system of government in Canada is similar to that of the United States.

20. electorate
n. all the people in a city or country who have the right to vote

The British Reform Bill of 1867 more than doubled the electorate by granting the right to vote
to common working men.

21. hierarchical
adj. classified according to various criteria into successive levels or layers

Because of the fierceness of their army and their hierarchical organization, they became the
largest Native American society.

22. amendment
n. a small change or improvement that is made to a law or a document
correction, alteration

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights.

23. ammunition
n. bullets, shells, bombs, or something else made to be fired from a weapon

Many of the Frenchmen had provided all sorts of things, from food to ammunition, for the
Indians.

24. bladder
n. a hollow sac-shaped organ in which liquid waste is stored before it is passed out of the
body
vesica

Your bowels and bladder prepare to empty their contents because, if they experience an injury,
their contents could infect your body.

25. ruthless
adj. having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feeling; hard and cruel
relentless, pitiless, merciless

The pirate Blackbeard had a reputation for being a harsh, ruthless man.

26. incest
n. sexual intercourse between closely related people

While virtually all cultures have rules prohibiting incest, the definition of what constitutes
incest fluctuates widely.

27. inaugural
adj. coming before all others in time or order; relating to a ceremony that officially marks
the beginning of something
initial, introductory, maiden

On the inaugural flight of the Dixie Clipper across the Atlantic, twenty-two passengers
enjoyed a main sitting area equipped with plush sofas.

28. soothe
v. to bring relief from pain or something else
comfort, calm, mitigate

Food, drink, and celebration after the group work provided relaxation and soothed weary
muscles.

29. interdisciplinary
adj. involving two or more subjects of study

Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field of research that employs psychology, linguistics,
and biology.

30. dignify
v. to make something impressive or dignified
ennoble, glorify, exalt

Agriculture was not even considered a science until it was dignified by the work of research
stations.


1. hexagonal cf. hexagon
adj. having a plane figure with six sides and angles

Simple snowflakes possess a variety of beautiful forms, most of which are hexagonal.

2. torrential
adj. caused by or like a torrent; falling in large amounts
rushing, streaming, violent

The torrential rains and heavy winds the hurricane brought are contributing to its storm surge.

3. luminous
adj. full of or giving out light
bright, shining, glowing

The most luminous objects seen by telescopes are probably ten thousand million light years
away.

4. spiral
adj. moving in a continuous curve that winds around a central point
coiled, helical, screw

The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy, a flattish disc of stars with two spiral arms emerging from its
central nucleus.

5. tentacle
n. long and thin appendages which are used as sense organs

Giant squid have eight short arms and two long tentacles.

6. sinuous
adj. marked by a long series of irregular curves
curving, twisting, winding

The large circular maria were seen as strange, and sinuous features were observed in the
maria.

7. rupture
v. to be broken or to burst apart; to burst or break apart something
break, split, breach

This change in the volume of air may cause the lungs to distend and even to rupture.

8. tension
1) n. a feeling of anxiety and stress that makes it impossible to relax
2) n. the state of being stretched tight
1) nervousness, distress 2) strain, pressure

As water is lost from the surface of the leaves, a negative pressure or tension is created on it.

9. translucent
adj. allowing light to pass diffusely
semi-transparent, see-through

One cannot see through translucent materials, but light can pass through them.

10. borealis
n. a luminous display of colors in the night sky of the Northern Hemisphere

It is almost impossible to capture the beauty of the aurora borealis in photographs.

11. reactor
n. a large structure used for the controlled production of nuclear energy

In late April 1986, the number four reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded.

12. oval
adj. with the outline of an egg or shaped like an egg
egg-shaped, ovoid, elliptical

The pear tree has simple, oval leaves that are smoother and shinier than those of the apple.

13. gyration
n. a rapid turning about on an axis or central point
whirl, rotation, spin

The gyrations of the cat in midair are too fast for the human eye to follow, so the process is
obscured.

14. anomaly
n. something that is unusual or different from what is expected
abnormality, freak, exception

If we stand above nature and if technology is all powerful, then AIDS is a horrifying anomaly
that must be trying to tell us something.

15. antler
n. either of a pair of solid bony outgrowths on the head of an animal

Deer use their antlers chiefly to fight for mates or for leadership of a herd.

16. epidermis
n. the outer layer of skin
skin

The external surfaces of plants, in addition to being covered by an epidermis and a waxy
cuticle, often carry spiky hairs.

17. conifer
n. a tree with narrow needle-like leaves and which produce pollen and seeds in cones

The conifer, which is among the tallest trees, has an unusually low root pressure.

18. pique
v. to hurt someones pride; to arouse curiosity or interest
annoy, offend, intrigue

Although this impact event was of considerable scientific important, it especially piqued the
publics curiosity and interest.

19. phosphorescent
adj. producing a faint light in the dark; luminous without sensible heat
light, radiant, luminous

Fish living in complete darkness at the bottom of deep-sea trenches have evolved incredibly
sensitive eyes and phosphorescent organs.

20. vascular
adj. relating to the blood vessels of animals or the sap-conducting tissues of plants

Club mosses, considered to be advanced because they are vascular, often inhabit moist places.

21. pollinate
v. to put pollen into a flower or plant so that it produces seeds
fertilize

Some honeybees are raised for their ability to pollinate, which ensures plant fertilization that
increases fruit yields.

22. unfurl
v. to spread out or unroll something from a rolled-up state
spread, unfold, open

The water unfurls in the sunlight with the colors of the rainbow playing across it.

23. aquifer
n. an area of rock underneath the surface of the Earth that absorbs and holds water

The first condition for a geysers eruption is that water must be contained in an aquifer.

24. cartographer
n. a person who makes charts or maps
mapmaker

The task of a cartographer is to represent the Earths surface at a greatly reduced scale.

25. fault
n. a break or crack in the Earths crust resulting in the slippage of a rock mass
slip

The original architects of the University of California at Berkeley built the campus directly on
top of a fault.

26. parole
n. the release before the end of ones sentence on the promise of good behavior

GPS is even used to keep track of criminals on day leave or parole.

27. ensue
v. to happen after or as a result of another event
follow

In 1906, much of San Francisco was destroyed by an earthquake and the fires that ensued.

28. impending
adj. being soon to appear or take place
imminent, approaching, nearing

Even with our improved ability to identify hazardous areas and to warn of impending
eruptions, increasing numbers of people face certain danger.

29. overcast
adj. covered by clouds

cloudy, gloomy, dark

Because ultraviolet light from the sun can penetrate clouds, it is possible to get a sunburn on
an overcast day.

30. gauge
n. a standard against which things are measured; an instrument used to measure a quantity
yardstick, measure, indicator

The gauge known as potential evaporation totals the water lost through both normal
evaporation and the evaporation that occurs from plant life.


1. minuscule
adj. extremely small
minute, tiny

In order to build his dream, he borrowed $50 million, which sounds minuscule by todays
standards.

2. ledge
n. a narrow horizontal shelf or shelf-like part
shelf, projection, overhang

Two ledges were built across from each other on the inside of the chimney.

3. tendon
n. a cord of strong fibrous tissue that joins a muscle to a bone

Muscle fibers are attached bones by tendons.

4. electron
n. a particle which has a negative electric charge in atoms

The proton has a positive charge, and the electron has a negative charge.

5. scaffolding
n. a temporary framework of metal poles and planks
frame, rack

Construction workers have begun dismantling the scaffolding that has encased the
Guggenheim Museum for nearly three years.

6. terrestrial
adj. relating to the land or to the Earth
earthly, earthbound

Much has been written about the diversity of terrestrial organisms.

7. thwart
v. to prevent or hinder someone or something
impede, obstruct, block

Ocean predators play a critical role by thwarting bacteria growth and maintaining the oceans
equilibrium by reducing vulnerable links in the food chain.

8. parched
adj. dried up; slightly roasted
dry, torrid, burned

According to one of the scientists, most parched trees transmit their plight in the 50- and 500kilohertz range.

9. saline
adj. containing sodium chloride or salt
briny, salty

When the saline water table rises to within two meters of the surface, evaporation
concentrates salt at the surface.

10. seemingly
adv. in appearance
apparently, ostensibly, superficially

Why did the huge, seemingly successful mammoths disappear?

11. bog
n. an area of low and wet muddy ground that sometimes contains bushes or grasses
marsh, swamp, fen

Many animals became trapped in bogs overgrown by vegetation.

12. propagation
n. multiplication by natural reproduction; dissemination
proliferation, generation, spread

Our problems do not stem from evaporated water supplies but from a propagation of carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gases due to industrial and automobile emissions.

13. groom
v. to clean the fur or skin of another animal or itself
dress, neaten up, tidy up

Monkeys are highly social animals. A good example of this is the fact that they groom one
another.

14. cetacean
n. an animal belonging to the order which includes dolphins, porpoises, and whales

It is widely believed that cetaceans are highly intelligent.

15. antigen
n. a foreign substance that stimulates the bodys immune system to produce antibodies

Each blood cell has an antigen, a kind of protein, on its surface.

16. capillary
adj. having a very small diameter; relating to capillarity
hair-like

Oxygen and nutrients reach the bodys tissues by passing from the blood through the capillary
wall.

17. canine
n. one of the long, sharp, and pointed teeth in front of a humans or animals mouth
cuspid, dogtooth

The front teeth are used to bite food, the canines to tear it, and the molars to grind it.

18. incisor
n. one of the eight sharp teeth at the front of the mouth and which are used for biting
front tooth, fore-tooth

A babys first teeth to appear are generally the lower incisors.

19. diaphragm
n. the layer of muscle between the lungs and the stomach and which is used especially to
control breathing

The power required for breathing comes from the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm.

20. iris
n. the colored part of the eye that controls the opening and closing of the pupil

The iris is basically the aperture of the eye, which is similar to that of a camera.

21. neurosis
n. a mental disorder that causes obsessive fears and unreasonable behavior
nervous breakdown

A psychosis is a severe mental disorder that is more serious than a neurosis.

22. pneumonia
n. an inflammation of the lungs, usually as a result of bacterial or viral infection

The symptoms of pneumonia, a lung infection, include high fever, chest pains, breathing
difficulty, and coughing.

23. pupil
n. the dark and circular opening in the center of the iris

The pupil regulates the amount of light allowed into the eye.

24. paralysis
n. a temporary or permanent loss of muscular function or sensation
numbness, palsy

Although complete paralysis is rare with neuritis, it is common for some muscles to become
weak.

25. arthritis
n. a disease that causes pain and swelling in one or more joints of the body

Isadora Martinez invented a knee implant that lets people with arthritis bend their knees
easily.

26. viable
adj. capable of being done or carried out
feasible, possible, practical

During the nineteenth century, further advances were made, notably Bessemers process for
converting iron into steel, which made the material more commercially viable.

27. carbohydrate
n. a group of organic compounds which consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Carbohydrates such as sugar or starches are important energy sources for humans and
animals.

28. viscosity
n. the degree to which a fluid can resist flowing
cohesion

Viscosity is a measurement describing the relative difficulty or easiness with which liquids
flow.

29. pavilion
n. a large and elaborate tent; a large ornamental building

The Liberty Bell, formerly housed in Independence Hall, was moved to a separate glass
pavilion in 1976.

30. prodigy
n. a child of extraordinary brilliance; something extraordinary or surprising
genius, wonder, marvel

Edison has been referred to as a child prodigy since he began working on his first inventions
at the age of twelve.


1. caliber
n. the level of quality or ability that someone or something has achieved
talent, capacity, merit

The actors may be of the highest caliber or simply part-time novices.

2. cardinal
adj. highly important; having other things based on something
essential, main, principal

A cardinal rule for players of the lute, a stringed instrument, is that every note is sustained for
as long as possible.

3. hiss
n. a sound like a long s; unwanted background noise in a sound system
sibilance

Environmental sounds and electrically generated hisses can be incorporated into a musical
composition.

4. luminosity
n. the property of emitting light
radiance, glow, splendor

His paintings show the same luminosity and attention to detail that the works of the Dutch
masters show.

5. lurid
adj. too bright in color; arousing a strong and superficial interest or emotional reaction
flaming, sensational, startling

Paperback novels in the 1940s often had lurid covers to attract readers attention.

6. choreography
n. the arrangement of the pattern of movements in dancing

It was around 1925 that an accurate, convenient system for recording the choreography of
ballet was developed.

7. punctuality
n. the quality or habit of arriving on time
promptness, timeliness

You will no doubt meet people with varying attitudes towards punctuality.

8. babble
v. to talk or say something quickly
prattle, chatter, jabber

Between four months and eight months, infants begin to babble meaningless syllables.

9. clich
n. a phrase which has become stale and hackneyed through overuse
trite saying, banality

Some of the American expressions are so common they have become clichs; Time is money,
Time waits for no one, and so on.

10. sprout
v. to develop a new growth of leaves, hair, or something else
come up, bud, germinate

Thanks to the steamboat, numerous towns and industries began to sprout up along the rivers.

11. supplement
n. something that is added to make something else complete
addition, annex, accessory

Wagon freighting, stage coaching and steamboating became supplements of feeders for the
first train.

12. treacherous
adj. not to be trusted; ready or likely to betray
unreliable, faithless, disloyal

The early slave songs provided them with a kind of spiritual escape from the treacherous
bonds of slavery.

13. discretion
n. the right to make decisions; the quality of behaving in a discreet way
volition, discernment, discrimination

Establishing monuments is at the presidents discretion.

14. feudal cf. feudalism
adj. relating to the feudal structure that was used in medieval Europe

Although based on feudal models, the colony of Pennsylvania developed a reputation for a
progressive political and social outlook.

15. mutiny
n. a rebellion or an act of rebellion; open fighting against authority
rebellion, revolt, uprising

The mutiny of a ships crew signifies the breakdown of obedience and discipline.

16. detectable cf. detect
adj. able to be noticed or discovered
perceptible, observable, discernible

The fact that DNA in detectable amounts has survived for 40,000 years has given scientists
hope that genetic material of other long-vanished species may be found.

17. limbo
n. an area between heaven and hell

The natives believe that only through a funeral are they able to break the limbo of their dead
family member.

18. hominid
n. a primate belonging to the family of modern man and his ancient ancestors
human

A great deal can be learned from the actual footprints of early hominids.

19. vault
n. an underground burial chamber
crypt, catacomb

The body is placed in a horizontal vault and enclosed with stone or wood.

20. freakish
adj. very unusual or unexpected
odd, weird, peculiar

A trumpeter of freakish gift, Louis Armstrong will be remembered as the most influential jazz
musician of all time.

21. characterize
v. to describe something; to be a typical feature of something
depict, label, mark

Her works can not be characterized in a few words.

22. glorify
v. to make someone or something seem more important or beautiful than he, she, or it really
is
exalt, dignify, ennoble

The art did not glorify any specific rulers.

23. delineate
v. to describe, draw, or explain something in detail
describe, outline, portray

The regional novel delineates the lives of people in a particular place to demonstrate how an
environment influences its inhabitants.

24. embark (on)
v. to begin a task, especially a lengthy one
commence, launch, start

The Dadaists embarked on their crusade by trying to shock the public by constructing
offensive or outrageous works of art and literature.

25. rekindle
v. to relight a fire; to revive or renew something
restore, revitalize, renew

In 1912, OKeeffes creative spark was rekindled when she attended an art class at the
University of Virginia summer school.

26. relegate
v. to move someone down to a lower grade
banish, exile, demote

The show was hounded off the legitimate stage and found itself relegated to saloons and
barrooms.

27. come of age cf. constant
ph. to become established and accepted

Colonial coppersmithing also came of age in the early eighteenth century and prospered in
northern cities.

28. in regards to
ph. with regard to; regarding or about
as regards, in respect of

Pay particular attention to details, especially in regards to Poes work, because they are there
for a reason.

29. impostor
n. someone who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others
pretender, deceiver, trickster

The character looks very much like a fool or even an impostor; that is, he might have wealth,
but, essentially, he is a clown, a fake.

30. lyrics
n. the words of a song
libretto, book, words

Louis Armstrong was one of the first musicians to sing in the scat style, using rhythmic
nonsense syllables instead of lyrics.


1. spearhead
v. to lead a movement, campaign, attack, or something else
lead, initiate, pioneer

Taylor was an American engineer who spearheaded the Efficiency Movement at the beginning
of the 20th century.

2. haul
v. to pull with great effort or difficulty
drag, draw, tow

Farm women had to haul large quantities of water into the house from wells or pumps for
every purpose.

3. arithmetic
n. the branch of mathematics that uses numbers to solve problems
calculation, computation

Reading, writing, and arithmetic were the basics of an elementary school education.

4. encyclopedia
n. a reference containing information on every branch of knowledge

Publishers of encyclopedias employed hundreds of specialists and large editorial staffs.

5. protocol
n. the version of an agreement; correct, formal, or diplomatic etiquette or procedure

treaty, manners, convention

This endless repetition, combined with strict schedules and office protocol, has a very wearing
effect on workers.

6. hinge on
ph. to be dependent or contingent on, or as if on a hinge
depend on, rely on, turn to

Industrial growth hinged on several economic factors.

7. lathe
n. a machine tool used to cut, drill, or polish a piece of metal

Until the late 1700s, metal could not be turned on a lathe to make it uniformly smooth and
round.

8. subsist
v. to live or to manage to stay alive
exist, live, survive

Many prehistoric people subsisted as hunters and gathers.

9. heading
n. a word or series of words, often in larger letters, placed at the beginning of a passage in
order to introduce or categorize
headline, rubric, title

The work of a factory worker and an office worker falls under the general heading of labor.

10. disseminate
v. to make something be widely circulated or diffused
disperse, spread, dissipate

Hollywood disseminated an image of the good life in Southern California on screens all across
the nation.

11. windfall
n. a fruit, especially an apple, blown down from its tree; an unexpected fortune
jackpot, bonanza, lucky strike

The South received great financial windfalls from its agricultural produce.

12. linger
v. to remain for a long time
remain, stay, loiter

Some people like to linger after dinner over coffee and dessert.

13. ideology
n. the body of ideas which forms the basis for a social system
beliefs, doctrine, philosophy

The farmers distrust of a city was caused, in part, by a national ideology that proclaimed
farming the greatest occupation and rural living superior to urban living.

14. litter
n. a number of animals born to the same mother at the same time
offspring, young, brood

Many animal species produce large litters at birth.

15. puberty
n. the stage of change in the human body from childhood to the adult state
adolescence, pubescence, teens

Adolescence is a transitional stage in human development from the beginning of puberty to the
attainment of the emotional, social, and physical maturity of adulthood.

16. chaos
n. a state of utter confusion or disorder
disorder, pandemonium, turmoil

These new urbanities eagerly embraced the progressive reforms that promised to bring order
out of the chaos of the city.

17. institution
n. a public body founded for a special purpose; a custom or tradition
establishment, foundation, practice

The institution of slavery has been a part of human history for thousands of years.

18. gullible
adj. easily tricked or fooled
innocent, naive, unwary

Con artists are criminals who take advantage of gullible people by tricking them and taking
their money.

19. pending
adj. waiting to be decided or dealt with
impending, undecided

The pending plan for the improvement of New York Harbor was discussed at a conference, but,
unfortunately, it was not agreed to.

20. ravage
v. to cause extensive damage to a place
demolish, destroy, raze

The country currently is being ravaged by ancient religious conflicts.

21. epithet
n. a word applied to a person or thing to describe an actual quality
nickname, label, tag

Even the name is an epithet, a synonym for the stunted, the scruffy, and the insignificant.

22. cabinet
n. an executive policy-making body made up of senior ministers
council, ministry

In the United States, the attorney general is the cabinet member in charge of the
administration of the Department of Justice.

23. credential
n. the personal qualifications that can be quoted as evidence of ones competence
identification, reference, license

Whatever their opinion of Mr. Jelks was, he had very impressive credentials.

24. isolationism
n. the policy of not joining with other countries in international affairs

A whole movement, known as isolationism, which called for America to remain out of world
affairs unless threatened directly, grew.

25. arena
n. a playing field where sporting events take place; a place of great activity
stadium, theater

In foreign affairs, he led the United States into the arena of international power politics,
thrusting aside the American tradition of isolationism.

26. bowels
n. an intestine, especially the large intestine in humans
intestines, guts, innards

An estimated one in five Americans suffers from irritable bowel syndrome, a disorder that can
cause disabling cramping, constipation, and diarrhea.

27. variable
n. a factor which may change or be changed by another

A worksheet can be especially useful when the decision involves a large number of variables
with complex relationships.

28. exaltation
n. the act of exalting or raising high
elevation, glory, praise

The Second Chicago School adhered to neoclassical economics and rejected the Keynesian
exaltation of government regulation.

29. cost-effective
adj. giving an acceptable financial return in relation to the initial outlay
profitable, economical, worthwhile

Pamphlets and chapbooks could be printed in large, cost-effective editions and sold cheaply.

30. territory
n. an area of land, especially considered with regard to the government that owns or controls
it
land, area, domain

Canada, which has a small population, covers slightly more territory than the United States
does.


1. concentric
adj. having a common center

The planets in our solar system are arrayed on nearly the same flat plane, with their orbits
forming roughly concentric ellipses around the sun.

2. wisp
n. a thin and fine tuft or shred; a thin or delicate untidy piece
bit, tuft, snippet

Daytime temperatures may reach above freezing, but because the planet is blanketed by the
mere wisp of an atmosphere, the heat radiates back into space.

3. eclipse
1) v. to cause an eclipse of a heavenly body
2) v. to surpass or to outshine
1) veil, overshadow 2) surpass

The moon has been eclipsed by mankind, and it is only natural that Mars be the next step for
space exploration.

4. skewed
adj. sloping or twisted
oblique, distorted

Made of hard wood, the boomerang is roughly V-shaped with arms slightly skewed.

5. constellation
n. a group of stars which form a pattern and have a name

In addition to the twelve ones of the Zodiac, thirty other constellations were familiar to people
in ancient times.

6. tributary
n. a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or river
branch, offshoot, streamlet

A western tributary, called Valerie Glacier, advanced up to 122 feet per day.

7. velocity
n. a rate of motion; a speed in a certain direction
speed, pace, rapidity

The velocity of a river is controlled by the slope, depth, and toughness of the riverbed.

8. refraction
n. a change in the direction of a wave of light when it passes from one medium to another

Because of refraction, the water in a tank never looks as deep as it actually is.

9. narcotic
adj. taking away pain or especially causing sleep
anesthetic, hypnotic, soporific

Some doctors have questioned whether surgical treatments, injections, and narcotic pain
medications are being used appropriately in many patients.

10. petal
n. one of the modified leaves, often scented and brightly colored

The most noticeable of the petals is called the labellum, or lip.

11. hitch
n. a small and temporary setback or difficulty
problem, snag, obstacle

There was a hitch in the program, which caused a two-hour delay.

12. molt
v. to shed feathers, hair, or skin to make way for a new growth
shed

All adult birds molt their feathers at least once a year.

13. coronary
adj. denoting vessels, nerves, or something else belonging or relating to the heart

Cholesterol may lead to coronary heart disease by building up in the arteries of the heart.

14. hypersensitive
adj. unusually sensitive; having feelings which are too easily hurt
temperamental, touchy

In an allergy, the animals immune system is hypersensitive to some substances it encounters,
called allergens.

15. embryo
n. a developing young organism until hatching or birth

Eggs should not become chilled to a point where the embryo can no longer survive.

16. fauna
n. the animals of a given region or period considered as a whole

Crows are probably the most frequently met and easily identifiable members of the native
fauna of the United States.

17. intestine
n. the long tube that carries waste matter from the stomach out of the body
bowls, guts

Protein digestion begins in the stomach and ends in the small intestine.

18. resilience
n. the power or ability to return to an original form or position after being bent, compressed,
or stretched
elasticity, springiness, flexibility

The tiny ant could be one of the most successful and marvelous species ever witnessed due to
its unrivaled resilience.

19. metabolism
n. the chemical reaction that occurs within the cells of a living organism

Virtually all species have biological clocks that regulate their metabolism over a 24-hour
period.

20. crevice
n. a narrow crack
fissure, cleft, cranny

Cactus range from the three-inch fishhook cactus nestled in a rock crevice to the towering
Saguaro Cactus, which reaches heights of 30 to 40 feet.

21. grid
n. a network of evenly spaced horizontal and vertical lines that can be superimposed on a
chart

On more modern GPSs used in vehicles, it even shows an animated car exactly where it is on a
city grid.

22. quicksand
n. wet sand that can suck down anything that lands or falls on it

Although quicksand can be found all over the world, little was known about its composition
until recently.

23. dune
n. a ridge or hill, usually on a seashore or in a hot desert

Sand dunes are made of loose sand built up by the action of the wind.

24. geyser
n. a type of hot spring that intermittently spouts hot water and steam into the air

Geysers have often been compared to volcanoes because they both emit hot liquids from below
the Earths surface.

25. incandescent
adj. white-hot or glowing with intense heat
glowing, flaming, flaring

Some geologists thought that the Earths interior contained a highly compressed ball of
incandescent gas.

26. synchronize
1) v. to happen or make something happen in exact time with something else or each other
2) v. to set clocks and watches so that all show the same time
1) coincide 2) coordinate, mate

The GPS receiver synchronizes its clock with that of the satellites atomic clocks.

27. basalt
n. a fine-grained dark volcanic rock formed by the solidification of molten lava

The black obsidian cliffs of Yellowstone National Park are the result of a lava flow of basalt
running head on into a glacier.

28. stratum
n. a layer of sedimentary rock; a layer of the atmosphere or the ocean
level, layer

The formation of snow begins with these ice crystals in the subfreezing strata of the middle
and upper atmosphere.

29. weathering
n. the action of weather on rocks making them change shape or color
efflorescence, erosion

Weathering involves the interaction of the lithosphere with the atmosphere and hydrosphere.

30. symmetrical
adj. characterized by or exhibiting symmetry; proportionally balanced
proportional, well-balanced

The elliptical galaxies have a symmetrical elliptical or spheroidal shape with an obvious
structure.


1. thaw
v. to melt; to make snow or ice melt
melt, deice, unfreeze

During the summer, the permafrost thaws enough so that plants are able to grow and
reproduce.

2. crooked
adj. bent or curved, angled, or twisted; not straight
bowed, askew, distorted

Lombard Street in San Francisco, which zigzags its way up a steep hill, is known as the most
crooked street in the world.

3. hoist
v. to lift or heave something up, especially something heavy
elevate, raise, uplift

During the construction of skyscrapers, cranes are used to hoist building materials to the
upper floors.

4. opulent
adj. having or showing great wealth
affluent, wealthy, well-to-do

Many of the worlds most opulent restaurants are located in luxury hotels.

5. barge
n. a long and flat-bottomed boat used on rivers and canals

Coal, grain, steel, and other products are often shipped by barge on inland waterways.

6. peg
n. a little shaft of some wood shaped for any of various fixing
pin, rod, bolt

Early carpenters, having no nails, had to use wooden pegs to secure their constructions.

7. canal
n. an artificial channel or waterway

It is said that George Washington was one of the first to realize how important the buildings of
canals would be to the nations development.

8. vindicate
v. to prove that something is true or right; to clear someone of blame or criticism
justify, support, exonerate

Carsons work was vindicated by a 1963 report of the Presidents Science Advisory Committee.

9. roam
v. to ramble or wander with no fixed purpose or direction
wander, range, rove

Millions of bison once roamed the plains of North America.

10. pasture
n. an area of grasslands suitable or used for the grazing of livestock
meadow, grassland, range

Overgrazing is a result of too much livestock being kept on a given area of pasture.

11. pulverization cf. pulverize
n. the action of reducing to dust or powder
grinding, shattering, crushing

The result of cattle grazing in an area is the reduction of the natural vegetation and the
pulverization of the soil.

12. enzyme
n. a specialized protein molecule that acts as a catalyst

In fact the enzyme may cause a reaction to proceed billions of times faster than it would
otherwise.

13. stasis
n. a situation in which there is no change or development
counterpoise, equilibrium, equipoise

Basil works together in conjunction with helpful predatory insects to create a state of stasis in
which the levels of harmful pest damage are minimized without the use of any chemicals.

14. mileage
n. the number of miles traveled or to be traveled

Tests have shown that the new diesel gets between 25% and 45% better mileage than gasoline.

15. tusk
n. one of a pair of long and projected teeth certain animals, like the elephant, have

Mammoths were distinguished from todays elephants by their thick, shaggy coats and their
huge, upward-curving tusks.

16. camouflage
n. the way that the color or shape of something can make it difficult to see
cover, disguise, concealment

These snakes have camouflage patterns on them and can be very difficult to see.

17. splice
v. to join two pieces of rope by weaving the strands of one into the other
knit, unite, bind

Another possible solution to the problem of overfishing is gene splicing, which can accelerate
the reproduction of fish many times.

18. arboretum
n. a botanical garden where trees and shrubs are grown

In an arboretum, trees are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes.

19. infrared
n. a wavelength between the red end of the visible spectrum and microwaves and radio waves

The greenhouse effect is a process by which the suns infrared radiation is more readily
absorbed by the atmosphere.

20. kingdom
n. a category in biological taxonomy; one of the five major groups into which all living
things are organized

Members of the animal kingdom have developed a variety of defense mechanisms for dealing
with parasites.

21. veterinarian
n. a person trained in the medical care and treatment of sick animals

A dog should be checked regularly by a veterinarian to ensure that it remains in good heath.

22. slash and burn
ph. characterized by a system of agriculture in which trees are cut down and burned in order
to make land available for crops

This terrible loss of vegetation and farmland is due to the slash and burn agricultural
practices used by the indigenous people.

23. astigmatism
n. the inability of the eye to see properly because of its shape

Symptoms of astigmatism are blurred vision and, in more extreme cases, headaches.

24. dementia
n. a loss or severe lessening of normal mental ability

Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia.

25. hepatitis
n. an inflammation of the liver caused by a viral infection

Early signs characteristic of the acute phase of viral hepatitis are abdominal pain, nausea,
and fever often accompanied by chills.

26. plasma
n. the component of blood or lymph in which the blood cells are suspended

Blood is usually stored as whole blood or plasma.

27. hypersomnia
n. the condition of sleeping for excessive periods

Contrary to popular belief, many studies have shown that hypersomnia could actually be even
more common than its nocturnal cousin, insomnia.

28. ligament
n. a band of tough connective tissue that holds two bones together at a joint
sinew, string

They are also the muscles that connect to tendons and ligaments, which connect them to our
bones.

29. anesthesia
n. a reversible loss of sensation in all or part of the body
narcosis

Frontier surgeon Ephraim MacDonald had to perform operations without anesthesia.

30. pituitary gland
ph. a small and oval endocrine gland attached to the base of the vertebrate brain

Endocrine is used to refer to glands like the thyroid and pituitary glands, which secrete
products directly into the bloodstream.


1. footage
n. a clip from a film used in a TV program or a movie

Scenes of factory interiors account for only about one third of the footage of Modern Times.

2. chisel
n. a hand tool which has a strong metal blade with a cutting edge at the end of the blade, used
for cutting into or shaping wood, stone, or something else

Neoclassical sculptors seldom held a mallet or chisel in their own hands.

3. snide
adj. expressing criticism or disapproval in an unpleasant manner
scornful

Although many intellectuals make snide remarks about TV viewing, there are a number of
high-brow shows.

4. intonation
n. the rise and fall of the pitch of the voice in speech
inflection, accent, tone

These differences in adult stress and intonation can influence babies emotional states and
behavior.

5. vowel
adj. pertaining to any of the human speech sounds in which the breath is let out without any
closing of the air passage in the mouth or throat

Most common are those words beginning with p, b, d, or n sounds followed by a vowel sound.

6. stationary
adj. not moving; standing still
fixed, immovable, static

As early as 1802, he was using a stationary steam engine of high-pressure design in his mill.

7. surge
v. to move up and down or to swell with force
wave, bulge, rise and fall

Most of the surging population growth came from a natural increase.

8. salvage
v. to rescue property or a ship from potential destruction or loss
save, rescue, retrieve

Even after a ship has sunk, its cargo can often be salvaged.

9. hinterland
n. a region lying inland from the coast or the banks of a river
interior, province

Philadelphia became an increasingly important marketing center for a vast and growing
agricultural hinterland.

10. semantics
n. the branch of linguistics that deals with the meanings of words

One important branch of linguistics is semantics, which analyzes the meanings of words.

11. utilitarian
adj. intended to be useful rather than beautiful
functional, practical, useful

Pottery usually has utilitarian purposes, and sometimes it is designed purely for decorative
reasons.

12. derogatory
adj. showing disapproval, dislike, scorn, or a lack of respect
depreciating, lowering, insulting

We used to call them Eskimos, but, today, that term is regarded by many Inuit as derogatory.

13. polygamy
n. the custom of having more than one husband or wife

Marriages were not always monogamous. Some men practiced polygamy.

14. hieroglyphs
n. a symbol representing a word, syllable, sound, or idea

Hieroglyphs catered to religious rules and represented important concepts with stylized
pictures.

15. etch
v. to make designs on metal by using acid to eat out the lines
engrave

The monument at Mount Rushmore is a giant sculpture of four United States presidents that is
etched into the highest peak in the Black Hills mountain range.

16. humanitarian
adj. concerned with improving peoples lives and welfare

She is remembered for her work in literature and also for her humanitarian work.

17. evacuate
v. to leave a place, especially because of danger
leave, vacate, decamp

The Bucks returned to China in the year 1927 only to be evacuated to Japan during the
Chinese Civil War.

18. hoard
v. to store or gather something especially for use in the future
store, reserve, set aside

The famous miser Ebenezer Scrooge would hoard his money and never spend it.

19. consort
v. to associate or keep company with someone
mingle, mix, pal

Some colonial urban portraitists consorted with affluent patrons.

20. gruff
adj. having a deep and rough voice
hoarse, husky, rough

Louis Daniel Armstrong is known for the beautiful, clear tone of his trumpet-playing and for
his gruff, gravelly singing voice.

21. faction
n. an active or trouble-making group within a larger organization
group, cabal, bloc

Those who were pro-slavery joined the Democrats, and the anti-slavery faction switched to the
Republicans, who were led by Abraham Lincoln.

22. morph
v. to form, shape, or structure

Their distinct styles reflected the social mentality of the era and its ability to morph and grow
in a new direction.

23. fiddle
n. a violin, especially when used to play folk music or jazz

After work, the people of the frontier sang and danced to fiddle tunes or country dances.

24. prop
n. a small article, such as a weapon or piece of furniture, that is used on stage in the acting of
a play

Provincial theaters frequently lacked heat and even minimal props and scenery.

25. pretend
1) adj. imaginary
2) v. to make believe; to act as if
1) imagined, fake 2) make believe, feign

In the experiment, the child was presented with a picture of some kind of pretend creature.

26. lexicon
n. a dictionary; the vocabulary of terms used in a particular branch of knowledge
dictionary

Whether the term couch potato was first said in jest or not, it has stuck and is now a part of
the lexicon of modern-day people.

27. metaphysical
adj. belonging or relating to metaphysics
abstract, psychic

Metaphysical philosophy is concerned with the principles, structures, and meanings that
underlie all observable reality.

28. template
n. a piece of metal cut in a particular shape and used as a pattern when cutting out material
pattern, model

The Rainbow provided the template for a new generation of ships that amazed the world.

29. catalyze cf. catalyst
v. to bring about a change in the rate of a chemical reaction; to alter significantly

Mass transportation catalyzed physical expansion, it sorted out people and land uses, and it
accelerated the inherent instability of urban life.

30. thermal
adj. belonging or relating to, caused by, or producing heat

Glass fibers were little more than a novelty until the 1930s, when their thermal and electrical
insulating properties were appreciated.


1. premise
n. a statement or idea assumed to be true as a basis for stating something further
assumption, proposition, supposition

Keynes premise was that the rate of economic growth depends on an aggregate demand for
goods.

2. heyday
n. the climax of the most success and prosperity
golden age, best days

Clipper ships saw their heyday in the early to mid-1800s.

3. consensus
n. a general agreement; the opinion of most of the people in a group

The conference came to a consensus, overcoming a variety of challenges.

4. sweatshop
n. a workshop in which the employees work hard, often in terrible conditions

There were sweatshops in city tenements, where groups of men and women manufactured
clothing or cigars.

5. depression
1) n. a period of low business and industrial activity
2) n. a mental state of prolonged sadness and pessimism

1) recession, slump 2) dejection, gloom

The Wall Street Crash of 1929 leads to years of economic depression in the United States.

6. tariff
n. the tax to be paid on a particular class of goods imported or exported

The federal government set up a system of tariffs that was basically protectionist.

7. microcosm
n. any structure which contains, in miniature, all of the larger structure

The settlement at Jamestown in Virginia was in many ways a microcosm of the economy of
colonial North America.

8. surplus
n. an amount that exceeds the amount required
leftover, oversupply, excess

The administration raised the possibility that the slowing economy could drive the federal
budget surplus down this year.

9. embargo
n. an official order forbidding something, especially trade with another country
ban, prohibition, proscription

The Nazis embargo immediately affected the United States and many of its allies.

10. laissez-faire
1) adj. with minimally restricted freedom in commerce
2) n. a policy of not interfering in what others are doing

He reversed the traditional federal policy of laissez-faire and sought to bring order, social
justice, and fair dealings to American industry and commerce.

11. tenet
n. a principle or belief held by a person, group, or something else
creed, doctrine, dogma

Not all of the members accepted the churchs tenets.

12. pluralism
n. the belief or theory that reality consists of more than two kinds of substances

Locke recommended a cultural pluralism through which artists could enrich the culture of
America.

13. decimal
adj. based on the number 10

Canada adopted the decimal system of coinage in 1867.

14. pseudo
adj. not actual but having the appearance of; false or spurious
quasi, sham, deceptive

According to the pseudo-science of racial classification, Africans were deemed inferior and
unintelligent.

15. breadbasket
n. an area which produces large amounts of grain for export
rich grain district, granary

The regions around New York and Philadelphia became the breadbasket of North America.

16. genealogy
n. the history of the members of a family from the past to the present; a persons direct line of
descent from an ancestor
pedigree, lineage

Today, individuals, driven by an urge to learn more about their familys history, often trace
their personal lineages through online genealogy sites.

17. miscarriage
n. a case of accidentally giving birth to a child too early for it to live

Abortion exists in some animals as a natural phenomenon in the form of miscarriages.

18. commentary
n. a spoken description of an event while it is happening, especially on the radio or television;
a criticism or discussion of something
comment, exposition, criticism

James Franklin was the first editor to see the newspaper as a means of expressing social and
political commentary.

19. questionnaire
n. a set of questions formulated as a means of collecting information

One of the most important tools for research in social science is a well-written questionnaire.

20. treaty
n. a formal agreement between states or governments
agreement, compact, protocol

The defeated were forced to sign a treaty with their opponents.

21. veto
1) n. the right to formally reject a proposal
2) v. to formally and authoritatively reject or forbid
1) turndown, rejection 2) deny, proscribe

If its not to the presidents liking, the bill can be vetoed or killed in two other ways.

22. bracket
n. a group or category fixed according to certain upper and lower limits
class, group, rank

Unfortunately, such options are not available to all, especially those in a lower income
bracket.

23. egalitarian
adj. relating to the principle that all human beings are equal

Olmsteads concept was to make the park a symbol of democracy and egalitarian ideals.

24. cognition
n. the mental processes which enable humans to experience and process knowledge and
information

What psychologists call cognition is a general category that includes all mental states and
activities.

25. ethology
n. the study of animal behavior with an emphasis on their behavioral patterns

Ethology began to be applied to research on children in the 1960s but has become even more
influential today.

26. paranoia
n. a rare mental disorder characterized by delusions of persecution by others

The memories of the terrible events were so powerful that they suffered from insomnia,
paranoia, and other dramatic side effects.

27. traumatic
adj. relating to, resulting from, or causing physical wounds; of an experience deeply and
unforgettably shocking

Anyone who has been in a car accident, been robbed, or been in any kind of traumatic event
can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

28. supersede
v. to take the place of something
displace, replace, supplant

Plastic and fiberglass have superseded metal in the replacement of such body parts as
eyeballs, teeth, and bones.

29. hub
n. the center of a wheel; the center of activity or importance
center, core, pivot

Phoenix is the ninth largest city in the United States and is the hub of the rich agricultural
region of the Salt River Valley.

30. anarchy
n. lawlessness and social and political disorder caused by absence of government or control;
any state of disorder and confusion

The Dadaists answer was to embrace anarchy and the irrational.


1. tilt
n. a sloping position or angle; a slant
incline, pitch, slope

Earths tilt, which gives us the seasons, is probably due to the impact of a large object at its
birth.

2. nebula
n. a mass of gas and dust among the stars, appearing often as a bright cloud at night

Jupiter is the best-preserved sample of the early solar nebula.

3. tug
1) v. to pull sharply or strongly
2) n. a strong, sharp and sudden pull
1) draw, haul 2) drag, yank

Tides are caused by the tug of the moons gravity.

4. elliptical
adj. relating to, or having the shape of, an ellipse; rounded like an egg
oval

The satellite is following an elliptical path 680 miles from the Earth at its farthest point.

5. plasma
n. a gas that has a nearly equal number of positively and negatively charged particles

The gas is stripped of its electrons by heat, and each atom thereby acquires a positive electric
charge. In this form, the gas is called plasma.

6. diffraction
n. the spreading out of light waves as they emerge from a small opening or slit

Two young scientists boldly published the results of their experiments on the diffraction of
light.

7. spell
n. a period or bout of illness, work, weather, or something else
interval, period

High-pressure cells may bring brief warm spells even in the middle of winter.

8. imprinting
n. the process by which animals rapidly learn the characters of their own species

Like all migratory birds, they have a natural instinct called imprinting, which means they will
follow and trust the first object they open their eyes to.

9. gill
n. a respiratory organ of a fish that extracts dissolved oxygen from the surrounding water
branchia

Menhaden swim with their mouths open, allowing water to flow through their gills.

10. herbarium
n. a classified collection of preserved plants in a room

Unfortunately, no book described the weed, and no samples existed in any herbaria in the
United States.

11. biodiversity
n. the existence of different species of living organisms within a given area

One definitive characteristic of tundra is a very low level of biodiversity.

12. pathological
adj. of or pertaining to pathology; caused by or involving disease
morbid

Some researchers have argued that some left-handedness may have a pathological origin,
having been caused by brain trauma during birth.

13. vertebrate
n. any animal that has a backbone

The first flying vertebrates were true reptiles which had one of the fingers from their front
limbs become very elongated.

14. invertebrate
n. any animal that does not possess a backbone

Some marine invertebrates migrate from deep water to shallow water to spawn during spring
and early summer.

15. metamorphosis cf. metamorphose
n. a change in physical form that occurs during the development process; a complete change
transformation, change

Butterflies undergo metamorphosis changing from caterpillar to pupa.

16. superficial
adj. apparent rather than actual or substantial
external, shallow

There was only a superficial resemblance between the two creatures.

17. avalanche
n. the rapid movement of a large mass of snow down a mountain slope
snowslide

Occurring predominantly in mountainous areas, avalanches are triggered by earthquake
tremors, human disturbances, or excessive rainfall.

18. estuary
n. the broad mouth of a river that flows into the sea

Other deltas do not appear to be deltas at all but are more like estuaries because the strength
of the tides and waves is so strong in those areas.

19. longitude
n. the imaginary circles that pass through both poles measured from Greenwich

Lines of longitude run from the North to South poles.

20. coma
n. the envelope of gas which forms around the nucleus of a comet

The visible coma is a huge cloud of gas and dust that has escaped from the nucleus.

21. reclamation
n. the conversion of wasteland to commercial use
recovery

Reclamation is the successful attempt to make unusable land suitable for farming.

22. congregate
v. to gather together into a crowd
assemble, collect, cluster

Like stars, galaxies tend to congregate in clusters.

23. granite
n. a hard and coarse-grained igneous rock widely used in buildings and roads

Granite is a coarse-grained igneous rock whose individual mineral crystals have formed to a
size easily seen by the naked eye.

24. lava
n. the magma that has erupted from a volcano; a rock in a very hot liquid state flowing from a
volcano

In its molten state, the material is called magma when it pushes into the crust and lava when it
runs out onto the surface.

25. asteroid
n. a small rocky object or a celestial body orbiting a star

Our solar system has 240 moons, or natural satellites, that circumnavigate the planets and
asteroids.

26. bulge
v. to swell outwards
swell, protrude, stick out

A planets rotation generally causes a slight flattening at the poles and bulging at the equator.

27. scrap
1) v. to discard or cease to use
2) n. a small piece
1) abandon, discard 2) piece, fragment

Denvers plan to build a subway system was scrapped in the 1970s.

28. tectonics
n. the study of continental drift and how mountains and volcanoes form

With an understanding of plate tectonics, geologists have put together a new history of the
Earths surface.

29. latitude
n. the imaginary circles drawn around the Earth parallel to the equator

Latitude lines start at zero degrees at the equator and then run north to the North Pole.

30. stark
adj. barren or severely bare; harsh or simple
vacant, severe, desolate

Mars is an inhospitable planet, more similar to Earths moon than to Earth itself a dry, stark,
seemingly lifeless world.


1. vicinity
n. an area very near to or around a stated place
neighborhood, environs, locale

A metropolitan area consists of a central city and any suburban areas in its vicinity.

2. feasibility cf. feasible
n. the capability of being done or achieved
practicability, workability, viability

The canal was never completed, but it showed the nation the feasibility of canals.

3. arch
n. a curved and both-side supported structure forming an opening of a roof, post, or pillar

The committee appointed by the mayor will undertake the erection of a memorial arch in honor
of the soldiers who died in the war.

4. divergence
n. the act of moving away in a different direction from a common point; a difference between
two or more things
separation, division, difference

Most domestic architecture during the first three-quarters of the eighteenth century displays a
wide divergence of tastes.

5. topography
n. the science of describing the character of an area; the natural and constructed features on
the surface of land
terrain

He and his brothers believed that parks should be adapted to the local topography.

6. order
n. the groups into which a class is divided and subdivided into more families

Scientists cannot agree on how fleas are related to other orders of insects.

7. environmentally-kind
adj. suitable to the surroundings; harmonizing with the circumstances
eco-friendly, nature friendly, green

There is a number of what we call green fuels, more environmentally-kind fuels, on the market
right now.

8. adrenal
adj. pertaining to the adrenal glands; relating to the kidneys
suprarenal

The adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney, secrete many important hormones.

9. cardiac
adj. relating to or affecting the heart

As the name implies, cardiac muscle is the tissue that surrounds the heart and allows it to
pump blood throughout our bodies.

10. inflammation
n. the presence of redness and swelling from an infection

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that can be caused by rabies.

11. hyperopia
n. a condition in which distant objects are seen more distinctly than near ones
farsightedness

As they grow and develop, sometimes the shape of the eye does as well, thereby alleviating the
hyperopia.

12. narcolepsy
n. a condition marked by sudden episodes of irresistible sleepiness

Scientists believe that narcolepsy is a genetic disorder passed down through generations.

13. antidepressant
n. a drug that prevents or relieves the symptoms of depression

Seven out of ten practicing health care professionals in Alaska prescribe antidepressants to
their patients.

14. neutron
n. one of the electrically uncharged particles in the nucleus of an atom

The neutron is neutral, meaning it has no charge.

15. photosynthesis
n. the process of manufacturing carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water by using light

During the process of photosynthesis in green plants, light energy is captured and used.

16. genetics
n. the scientific study of heredity and of its mechanisms

Our body types are usually fixed by heredity, that is, genetics.

17. antioxidant
n. a substance that slows down the oxidation of other substances

One excellent example of an herbal remedy is mushroom tea, which is an excellent
antioxidant.

18. asthma
n. a long-lasting disease which causes difficulty in breathing
chronic respiratory disease

Hot, humid weather can make an asthma sufferers condition much worse.

19. chromosome
n. the microscopic thread-like structures of a cell which contain all the genetic information

Almost all the hereditary material of an individual organism resides in the chromosomes.

20. endocrine
adj. relating to internal secretions or to a pathway or structure that secretes internally

The endocrine system functions in close relationship with the nervous system.

21. cornea
n. the convex transparent membrane that covers the front of the eyeball

The cornea protects the internal workings of the eye from things like foreign debris.

22. lens
n. a piece of round and transparent flesh behind the pupil in the eye

The lens focuses the image before it moves inwardly onto the retina.

23. myopia
n. a condition in which distant objects appear blurry
shortsightedness

People with myopia have difficulty seeing objects far away but can see things up close very
easily.

24. measles
n. a highly infectious disease characterized by fever, a sore throat, and a blotchy red rash
rubeola

Among the symptoms of measles are a high fever, the swelling glands and a cough.

25. polio
n. a viral disease of the brain and spinal cord which can result in paralysis
poliomyelitis

The polio vaccine was discovered by a physician named Jonas Salk.

26. receptor
n. an element of the nervous system adapted for reception of stimuli

These are genes that are associated with particular nerve-cell receptors in the brain.

27. kidney
n. an organ whose function is the removal of waste products from the blood

The kidneys play a vital role in maintaining health by removing impurities from the
bloodstream.

28. pancreas
n. an organ that is situated behind the stomach and which produces insulin

The hormone secretin travels through the bloodstream and stimulates the pancreas to liberate
digestive fluid.

29. isotope
n. one of two or more atoms with the same atomic number but with different numbers of
neutrons

Carbon can have isotopes like carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14.

30. proton
n. the positively charged particles that are found at the center of an atom

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom varies from element to element.

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1800

First published in August 2009

Categorizing used in this book

Chapter 01 UNIT 01 Humanities

nimble, quick, swift

n. the act of obtaining, developing, or acquiring something

Chapter 01 UNIT 02 Social Sciences

v. to reproduce sexually; to raise something, often an animal

Chapter 01 UNIT 03 Natural Sciences

adj. having the ability to poison

enclose, encase, hedge

Chapter 01 UNIT 04 Applied Sciences

v. to mention something indirectly; to speak about something in passing

n. a line or border marking the farthest limit of an area

Chapter 02 UNIT 05 Humanities

23. carry out

Chapter 02 UNIT 06 Social Sciences

adj. evoking or attracting interest, desire, curiosity, or sympathy

Chapter 02 UNIT 07 Natural Sciences

adj. standing straight up

n. a container or device that receives or holds something

Chapter 02 UNIT 08 Applied Sciences

2) v. to test someone in order to check for the presence of a disease

fragile, breakable, weak

Chapter 02 UNIT 09 Humanities

n. the act of transporting or the process of being transported

adj. relating to or having a common race or cultural tradition

encircle, enclose, include

Chapter 03 UNIT 10 Social Sciences

against big cities.

border, confines, extent

Chapter 03 UNIT 11 Natural Sciences

irregular, rough, rugged

Chapter 03 UNIT 12 Applied Sciences

Tinbergen observed behavior patterns that promote survival.

adj. relating to breathing or the lungs

Chapter 03 UNIT 13 Humanities

Chapter 04 UNIT 14 Social Sciences

n. a sinking to a state of low moral standards

2) adj. not planned or expected

Chapter 04 UNIT 15 Natural Sciences

adj. visibly noticeable or obvious

adj. very risky; dangerous

meaning of a second in another, perhaps more graphic, way.

Chapter 04 UNIT 16 Applied Sciences

adj. of or pertaining to physiology

Chapter 05 UNIT 17 Humanities

adj. very great or clear; extremely good

so he was not offended by it.

Chapter 05 UNIT 18 Social Sciences

v. to inform against or to accuse someone publicly

practices on the part of either employers or employees.

Chapter 05 UNIT 19 Natural Sciences

perforate, pierce, stab

n. what remains of something or is left over

Chapter 05 UNIT 20 Applied Sciences

alteration, metamorphosis, transformation

Chapter 06 UNIT 21 Humanities

1) n. something won in a competition or lottery

1) typical, symbolic 2) deputy, delegate