Chapter 7 Vocab Words

Question 1

ALTHOUGH I WAS startled by this unexpected descent, I at least have a very clear recollection of my sensations during it.

Answer 1

Sensationnoun. A state of heightened interest or emotion

Question 2

ALTHOUGH I WAS startled by this unexpected descent, I at least have a very clear recollection of my sensations during it.

Answer 2

Descentnoun. An inclination downward; Slope

Question 3

Suddenly my clothes were seized by energetic hands, I felt myself pulled abruptly back to the surface of the sea, and yes, I heard these words pronounced in my ear.

Answer 3

Seizeverb. To catch or take hold of suddenly and forcibly

Question 4

Suddenly my clothes were seized by energetic hands, I felt myself pulled abruptly back to the surface of the sea, and yes, I heard these words pronounced in my ear.

Answer 4

Pronouncedadjective. Very noticeable

Question 5

Suddenly my clothes were seized by energetic hands, I felt myself pulled abruptly back to the surface of the sea, and yes, I heard these words pronounced in my ear.

Answer 5

Abruptadjective. Beginning, ending, or changing suddenly or with a break

Question 6

“I’m saying that just as I jumped overboard, I heard the men at the helm shout, ‘Our propeller and rudder are smashed!’

Answer 6

Propellernoun. A revolving shaft with blades to drive a ship or aircraft

Question 7

“I’m saying that just as I jumped overboard, I heard the men at the helm shout, ‘Our propeller and rudder are smashed!’

Answer 7

Helmnoun. Handle or wheel for moving the rudder of a ship or boat

Question 8

“Yes, smashed by the monster’s tusk! I believe it’s the sole injury the Abraham Lincoln has sustained. But most inconveniently for us, the ship can no longer steer.”

Answer 8

Sustainverb. Keep from falling; Maintain; Suffer; Give a decision

Question 9

I swam more vigorously, but hampered by clothes that were as restricting as a cloak made of lead, I was managing with only the greatest difficulty.

Answer 9

Vigorousadjective. Strong, energetic

Question 10

Perhaps they hadn’t seen us go overboard; and even if they had, the frigate – being undone by its rudder – couldn’t return to leeward after us.

Answer 10

Leewardnoun. That side or direction toward which the wind blows

Question 11

Consequently, I decided to divide our energies so we wouldn’t both be worn out at the same time, and this was the arrangement: while one of us lay on his back, staying motionless with arms crossed and legs outstretched, the other would swim and propel his partner forward.

Answer 11

Propelverb. To drive or urge forward

Question 12

Consequently, I decided to divide our energies so we wouldn’t both be worn out at the same time, and this was the arrangement: while one of us lay on his back, staying motionless with arms crossed and legs outstretched, the other would swim and propel his partner forward.

Answer 12

Outstretchverb. To extend

Question 13

Lastly, I can vouch – as improbable as it seems – that even if I had wanted to destroy all my illusions, even if I had been willing to “give in to despair,” I could not have done so!.

Answer 13

Illusionnoun. An erroneous perception of reality

Question 14

Lastly, I can vouch – as improbable as it seems – that even if I had wanted to destroy all my illusions, even if I had been willing to “give in to despair,” I could not have done so!.

Answer 14

Vouchverb. Take responsibility for or express confidence in; Guarantee

Question 15

Lastly, I can vouch – as improbable as it seems – that even if I had wanted to destroy all my illusions, even if I had been willing to “give in to despair,” I could not have done so!.

Answer 15

Despairverb. To lose all hope or confidence

Question 16

Sometimes I tried to peer through the dense gloom, which was broken only by the phosphorescent flickers coming from our movements.

Answer 16

Movementnoun. A distinct structural unit or division having its own key, rhythmic structure, and themes and forming part of an extended musical composition

Question 17

Sometimes I tried to peer through the dense gloom, which was broken only by the phosphorescent flickers coming from our movements.

Answer 17

Peernoun. Person who is equal to another in rank, status or merit

Question 18

And it may have been a ringing in my ear, from this organ filling with impeded blood, but it seemed to me that Conseil’s shout had received an answer back.

Answer 18

Impedeverb. To interfere with or slow the progress of

Question 19

Conseil made one final effort, and bracing his hands on my shoulders, while I offered resistance with one supreme exertion, he raised himself half out of the water, then fell back exhausted.

Answer 19

Bracingadjective. Giving strength, vigor, or freshness

Question 20

Conseil made one final effort, and bracing his hands on my shoulders, while I offered resistance with one supreme exertion, he raised himself half out of the water, then fell back exhausted.

Answer 20

Resistancenoun. The exertion of opposite effort or effect

Question 21

Conseil made one final effort, and bracing his hands on my shoulders, while I offered resistance with one supreme exertion, he raised himself half out of the water, then fell back exhausted.

Answer 21

Exertverb. To bring to bear especially with sustained effort or lasting effect

Question 22

I was at the end of my strength; my fingers gave out; my hands were no help to me; my mouth opened convulsively, filling with brine; its coldness ran through me; I raised my head one last time, then I collapsed.

Answer 22

Convulseverb. To cause spasms in

Question 23

I was at the end of my strength; my fingers gave out; my hands were no help to me; my mouth opened convulsively, filling with brine; its coldness ran through me; I raised my head one last time, then I collapsed.

Answer 23

Brinenoun. Water saturated with salt

Question 24

I was at the end of my strength; my fingers gave out; my hands were no help to me; my mouth opened convulsively, filling with brine; its coldness ran through me; I raised my head one last time, then I collapsed.

Answer 24

Collapseverb. To fall or shrink together abruptly and completely

Question 25

At this point in my story, I need to get a grip on myself, reconstruct exactly what I experienced, and make doubly sure of everything I write.

Answer 25

Reconstructverb. To rebuild

Question 26

At this point in my story, I need to get a grip on myself, reconstruct exactly what I experienced, and make doubly sure of everything I write.

Answer 26

Doublyadverb. In twofold degree or extent

Question 27

Obviously it was some hard, impenetrable substance, not the soft matter that makes up the bodies of our big marine mammals.

Answer 27

Impenetrableadjective. Impossible to get through

Question 28

Obviously it was some hard, impenetrable substance, not the soft matter that makes up the bodies of our big marine mammals.

Answer 28

Marineadjective. Of or pertaining to the sea or matters connected with the sea

Question 29

But this hard substance could have been a bony carapace, like those that covered some prehistoric animals, and I might have left it at that and classified this monster among such amphibious reptiles as turtles or alligators.

Answer 29

Carapacenoun. Shell on the back of a tortoise or crustacean

Question 30

But this hard substance could have been a bony carapace, like those that covered some prehistoric animals, and I might have left it at that and classified this monster among such amphibious reptiles as turtles or alligators.

Answer 30

Amphibiousadjective. Living both on land and in water

Question 31

But this hard substance could have been a bony carapace, like those that covered some prehistoric animals, and I might have left it at that and classified this monster among such amphibious reptiles as turtles or alligators.

Answer 31

Classifyverb. To arrange or order by categories

Question 32

This animal, this monster, this natural phenomenon that had puzzled the whole scientific world, that had muddled and misled the minds of seamen in both hemispheres, was, there could be no escaping it, an even more astonishing phenomenon – a phenomenon made by the hand of man.

Answer 32

Muddleverb. Put something into disorder; Mix something up

Question 33

This animal, this monster, this natural phenomenon that had puzzled the whole scientific world, that had muddled and misled the minds of seamen in both hemispheres, was, there could be no escaping it, an even more astonishing phenomenon – a phenomenon made by the hand of man.

Answer 33

Phenomenonnoun. Any unusual occurrence

Question 34

Even if I had discovered that some fabulous, mythological creature really existed, it wouldn’t have given me such a terrific mental jolt.

Answer 34

Fabulousadjective. Incredible

Question 35

We were stretched out on the back of some kind of underwater boat that, as far as I could judge, boasted the shape of an immense steel fish.

Answer 35

Immenseadjective. Very great in degree, extent, size, or quantity

Question 36

Just then, as if to take my side in the argument, a bubbling began astern of this strange submersible – whose drive mechanism was obviously a propeller – and the boat started to move.

Answer 36

Submersibleadjective. Capable of being put underwater

Question 37

In fact, if they didn’t produce their own air, they inevitably had to make periodic visits to the surface of the ocean to replenish their oxygen supply.

Answer 37

Inevitableadjective. Certain, unavoidable

Question 38

In fact, if they didn’t produce their own air, they inevitably had to make periodic visits to the surface of the ocean to replenish their oxygen supply.

Answer 38

Replenishverb. Fill something again

Question 39

The propeller churned the waves with mathematical regularity, sometimes emerging above the surface and throwing phosphorescent spray to great heights.

Answer 39

Emergeverb. To come into view or into existence

Question 40

Fortunately Ned’s hands came across a big mooring ring fastened to the topside of this sheet-iron back, and we all held on for dear life.

Answer 40

Fastenverb. To attach especially by pinning, tying, or nailing

Question 41

Several times, during various lulls of wind and sea, I thought I heard indistinct sounds, a sort of elusive harmony produced by distant musical chords.

Answer 41

Chordnoun. Three or more musical tones sounded simultaneously

Question 42

Several times, during various lulls of wind and sea, I thought I heard indistinct sounds, a sort of elusive harmony produced by distant musical chords.

Answer 42

Elusiveadjective. Evasive; Baffling; Hard to grasp

Question 43

Several times, during various lulls of wind and sea, I thought I heard indistinct sounds, a sort of elusive harmony produced by distant musical chords.

Answer 43

Indistinctadjective. Not easily heard, seen, clearly marked

Question 44

Several times, during various lulls of wind and sea, I thought I heard indistinct sounds, a sort of elusive harmony produced by distant musical chords.

Answer 44

Lullverb. To cause to sleep or rest; Soothe

Question 45

I was about to proceed with a careful examination of the hull, whose topside formed a sort of horizontal platform, when I felt it sinking little by little.

Answer 45

Hullnoun. Body of a ship