Patent Pending

My buddy Verne, a precocious automotive wizard, and I were inspired to do some inventing on our own. We thought it might be feasible* to park a car parallel to a space on the street. Then, by pressing a button, we could raise the four tires off the ground slightly, while dropping two special wheels perpendicular to the curb. It would then be child's play to roll into the narrowest of parking spaces. We took the idea to Ed Greene who runs the Ford agency in order to elicit* his reaction. After a perfunctory glance at our plans, to our chagrin Ed snorted that our idea was inane, * but we decided that he was just jealous of our brilliance. Tomorrow we are going to start on a computer that will enable us to measure the intelligence of perverse automobile dealers who like to deride the efforts of junior geniuses.

Sample Sentences: Use the clues above to help find the proper words.

1. The children in Shakespeare's plays are so __________ that they all sound like grandparents.

2. I construed* the doctor's __________ examination to indicate that I was in good health.

3. The Wright brother didn't become distraught* when a skeptic would __________ their work.

4. When I correct my kid brother's math errors, he is _________ enough to insist that he is right.

5. To the _________ of many taxpayers, some citizens seem to cheat the

government with impunity.*

Definitions: Match the new words with their meanings.

6. precocious ______ a. done without care, superficial

7. perfunctory ______ b. reaching maturity early

8. chagrin ______ c. feeling of disappointment, humiliation

9. perverse ______ d. contrary, persisting in error

10. deride ______ e. to ridicule, scoff * at

Today's Idiom red-letter day ― day of happiness, time for rejoicing (holidays are red-letter days on our calendars)

My red letter day came when I was chosen as senior class president.

6th Week / 3rd Day

New Words: disparage laudable fiasco masticate eschew

Hold That Nobel Prize!

Speaking of inventions and discoveries, I just learned that an eminent* scientist in Ohio has developed a pill that contains all the nutritive value of three complete meals. In addition to providing us with the vitamins and minerals we need daily, this pill also gives a feeling of fullness. According to its sponsors, the pill will nourish and satisfy. I hate to disparage such a laudable achievement, but to me it seems like a most objectionable discovery. Rather than a scientific triumph, I'd be inclined to label it as an egregious* blunder, a scientific disaster, a laboratory fiasco. Is there anyone in his right mind who thinks that a pill can replace the pleasures of devouring hot corn bread, masticating on a thick steak, biting into crisp french fries, or attacking a chocolate sundae? I'm afraid that this is one pill I'll have to eschew from chewing.

Sample Sentences: Insert the new words in the following sentences.

1. The paradox* is that Javert's inexorable* pursuit of Jean Veljean was both

___________ and despicable.

2. The affluent* storeowner ________ the efforts of his small competitor, saying that he could always tolerate* that kind of rivalry.

3. To aid in digestion, you must _________ each piece of meat one dozen times.

4. In an acrimonious* letter, her father described the project as a complete _______.

5. Once he sought the limelight, but now he _________ all interviews.

Definitions: Match the new words with their meanings.

6. disparage _________ a. to discredit, belittle*

7. laudable _________ b. avoid

8. fiasco _________ c. to chew up

9. masticate _________ d. praiseworthy

10. eschew _________ e. complete failure

Today's Idiom to let sleeping dogs lie ― to let well enough alone, to avoid

stirring up old hostilities

The lawyer wanted to open up the old case, but his partner advised him to let sleeping dogs lie.

6th Week / 4th Day

New Words: quell voluble confidant (e) obsolescence dubious

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