Just Spell the Name Correctly

P. T. Barnum, the great circus imppresario, was once accosted by a woman who showed him a scurrilous* manuscript about himself, and said that unless he paid her, she would have the book printed. Barnum rejected the extortion attempt. "Say what you please," he replied, "but make sure that you mention me in some way. Then come to me and I will estimate the value of your services as a publicity agent." Barnum obviously felt that adverse criticism was an asset for a public figure. A man who seeks the limelight should not care what is written about him but should be concerned only when they stop writing about him. Barnum's philosophy sug­gests that we might do well to review the plethora* of publicity given to rabble-rousers and bigots.

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

1. When the business manager was accused of ________, his colleagues sought to oust* him from the firm.

2. The eminent* —————— brought many cultural spectacles to our shores.

3. Attacked by the irate* crowd, the______ asked the police for sanctuary.*

4. The childless man's will stipulated that all the _______ of his company should revert* to the original owners.

5. It was excruciatingly* painful for the actors to read the————— reviews

which their performances had received.

Definitions: Match the new words with their meanings.

6. impresario ____________ a. a narrow-minded, prejudiced person

7. extortion _______________b. unfavorable, harmful

8. adverse _______________c. one who presents cultural series, organizer

9. asset ______________ d. a valuable thing to have-

10. bigot _______________e. getting money by threats

Today's Idiom: to spill the beans—to give away a secret

Although he was naturally reticent,* when the felon* was intimidated * by the members of the rival gang, he spilled the beans

9th Week / 2nd Day

New Words: blatant entourage virulent venom spew

Bigots Get Publicity

Today, the blatant bigot, the leader of lunatic fringe, and the hate-monger, each with his tiny entourage, find it rela­tively easy to attract publicity. Newspapers give space to the virulent activities of those agitators on the grounds that they are newsworthy. TV producers and radio executives, seeking for sensationalism, often extend a welcome to such contro­versial characters. "Yes," said the host of one such program, "we invite bigots, but it is only for the purpose of making them look ridiculous by displaying their inane policies to the public." Some civic-minded organizations have answered, however, that the hosts are not always equipped to demolish those guests, and even if they were, the audience would still be exposed to the venom they spew forth.

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

1. The visiting dictator's ubiquitous* ——————— of body guards disturbed our tranquil * city.

2. Europe's population was afflicted * by a ^____________ plague known as the Black Death.

3.From each candidate's headquarters acrimonious charges would___________forth daily.

4. Clym Yeobright's mother succumbed * to the __________of a snake bite.

5. With ___________ discourtesy the reporters continued to harass* the bereaved

family.

Definitions: Match the new words with their meanings.

6.blatant ______a. group of attendants

7. entourage ——b. disagreeably loud, very showy

8. virulent —— c. poison, spite, malice

9. venom —— d. throw up, vomit, eject,

10. spew ______ e. full of hate, harmful

Today's Idiom: to keep a stiff upper lip —to be courageous in the face of trouble

It was admirable to see how the British managed to keep a stiff upper lip in spite of the German bombing.

9th Week / 3rd Day

New Words: loath solicit astute advocate ineffectual l

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30