WEEK 2 DAY 1

TO THE POINT
Calvin Coolidge, our thirtieth president, was named "Silent Cal" by reporters because of his laconic speech.
One Sunday, after Mr. Coolidge had listened to an interminable sermon, a throng of newsmen gathered
around him. An intrepid reporter accosted the Chief Executive: "Mr. President, we know that the sermon
was on the topic of sin. What did the minister say?" "He was against it," the reticent Coolidge replied.

Task 1: Use the new words in the following sentences:

1. His speech was usually rambling, but this time I found it brief and _______________________.
2. If a surly panhandler should ______________________ you, keep on walking.
3. Even under repeated questioning, the witness remained ________________________ .
4. A howling ______________________ of teenage girls surrounded the rap artists.
5. The corporal received the Silver Star for his ______________________ deeds in combat.

Task 2: Definitions: Match the new words with their dictionary meanings.
6. laconic a. expressing much in few words
7. throng b. brave
8. intrepid c. to approach and speak to
9. accost d. crowd
1 0. reticent e. silent

TODAY'S IDIOM
Add insult to injury - To add another bad situation on top of an existing one.
SENTENCE: To add insult to injury, it started to rain after I locked my keys in my car.
Task 3: Make sentence using the idiom “add insult to injury”
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 WEEK 2 DAY 2

IF I HAD THE WINGS OF AN ANGEL

Casting a furtive glance over his shoulder, the felon slipped out the main prison gate to be swallowed up in
the British fog. A plethora of escapes from supposedly secure prisons embarrassed the hapless wardens.
To compound their problems, the officials were badgered by irate citizens who accused the guards of
accepting bribes from convicts whose motto was: "Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage."

Task 1: Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. The __________________ contest winner was unable to locate the lucky ticket.
2. My uncle was _________________________ when the drunken driver swerved in front of us.
3. In a _____________________ manner she removed her shoes and tiptoed up to her room.
4. When the teacher asked why the homework had not been done, he was greeted by a
_________________ of incredible alibis.
5. Since the boss learned that Bob associated with a known _____________________ , he fired him.

Task 2: Definitions: Match the new words with their meanings.

6. furtive a. angry, incensed
7. felon b. a person guilty of a major crime
8. plethora c. unfortunate
9. hapless d. excess
10. irate e. secret, stealthy

TODAY'S IDIOM
Pyrrhic victory - a too costly victory
(King Pyrrhus defeated the Romans but his losses were extremely heavy)
SENTENCE: In heavy fighting the troops managed to recapture the hill, but it could only be considered a
Pyrrhic victory.
Task 3: Make sentence using the idiom “Pyrrhic victory”
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 WEEK 2 DAY 3

DR. JEKYLL OR MR. HYDE?

Under the pretext of being a surgeon he gained entry to the hospital. When interviewed by the director, he
had to fabricate a tale of his medical experience, but he was so adroit at lying that he got away with it. It
was not until the phony "doctor" began to gesticulate wildly with his scalpel, that a vigilant nurse was able
to detect the fraud. In the annals of medical history there have been a number of such cases.

Task 1: Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.
1. The shootings at Columbine High School made educators much more
____________________________ .
2. My nephew is quite ______________________ at making model airplanes.
3. Most fishermen can __________________________ a story about the size of the one that got away.
4. Her ____________________________ of being tired did not fool us for an instant.
5. I often marvel as I watch the traffic officer ______________________ at the onrushing cars.

Task 2: Definitions: Pick the letter of the definition that matches your new word.
6. pretext a. to lie: to construct
7. fabricate b. skillful
8. adroit c. an excuse
9. gesticulate d. watchful
10. vigilant e. move the arms energetically

TODAY'S IDIOM
At the drop of a hat - To do something without any hesitation.
SENTENCE: If Tara hears her favorite song, she’ll belt out the lyrics at the drop of a hat.
Task 3: Make sentence using the idiom “at the drop of a hat”
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 WEEK 2 DAY 4

YOU'VE GOT TO BE A FOOTBALL EXPERT

As an avid football fan, I try to see every game the Jets play. Whenever I can cajole my father into
accompanying me, I try to do so. He has only a rudimentary knowledge of the game, and since I am
steeped in it, I enjoy explaining its intricate details to him. It certainly does enhance your appreciation of
football when you are aware of every nuance of the sport.

Task 1: Use the new words in the following sentences. You may have to change the ending of a word.
1. Since my grasp of algebra is ___________________ , I cannot solve the problem.
2. The parakeet refused to be __________________________ into entering her cage.
3. It will ___________________ your enjoyment of an opera if you know what the plot is about in advance.
4. In reading the satires of Jonathan Swift, one must be vigilant in order to catch each
_______________________.
5. Bill Clinton is an ______________________ reader of mystery stories.

Task 2: Definitions: Match the new words with their meanings.

6. avid a. eager
7. cajole b. slight variation in meaning, tone, etc.
8. rudimentary c. coax
9. enhance d. intensify, heighten
10. nuance e. elementary

TODAY'S IDIOM
to beard the lion in his den - to visit and oppose a person on his own grounds
SENTENCE: Having decided to beard the lion, I stormed into the manager's office to ask for a raise.

Task 3: Make sentence using the idiom “to beard the lion in his den”
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 WEEK 2 DAY 5
REVIEW
Task 1: WORDS DEFINITIONS
1. acost a. uncommunicative
2. adroit b. enthusiastic
3. avid c. alert
4. cajole d. overabundance
5. enhance e. courageous
6. fabricate f. to greet first
7. felon g. an excuse
8. furtive h. unlucky
9. gesticulate i. angry
10. hapless j. criminal
11. intrepid k. basic, elementary
12. irate I. clever
13. laconic m. to make up a lie
14. nuance n. great number of people
15. plethora o. concise, pithy
16. pretext p. to use lively gestures
17. reticent q. shade of difference
18. rudimentary r. sly
19. throng s. coax, wheedle
20. vigilant t. to make greater

IDIOMS
21. Add insult to injury u. an expensive conquest
22. Pyrrhic victory v. spoil sport
23. At the drop of a hat w. defy an opponent in his home
24. to beard the lion x. any threatening danger

Task 2: Fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.
The Best Laid Plans
Gloria Rogers overslept and then had to sprint to catch the same Greyhound Bus that she boarded on the
last Thursday of every month. After a three-hour uneventful ride, she finally arrived at the bus terminal
where a courtesy van was ready to transport bus passengers to Visitors Day at the State Penitentiary.

Although Gloria tried to act casual, she was more than a little nervous. Her boyfriend, Art, a convicted
_________________ , had managed to gain admittance to the prison's hospital on the
______________________ of having a gall bladder attack. Under her own slacks and bulky sweater, Gloria
was wearing a set of clothes that she removed in the hospital bathroom and passed on to Art. He planned
to use them after making his escape in the back of the prison ambulance that was parked outside his ward.

Art had spelled out his escape plan during Gloria's last visit, spending an hour trying to
_____________________ her into being his accomplice. All that she had to do was appear to have a
seizure. Then she would _______________________ a story about her epilepsy while Art, with the
smuggled clothes concealed under his prison bathrobe, would slip out of the ward during the excitement.
Unfortunately for the schemers, a ______________________ hospital guard spotted Art climbing into the
rear of the ambulance and quickly foiled the escape attempt. The result was that Art had three years
added to his sentence and Gloria was imprisoned for her role in the misadventure.