Chapter 9 Vocab Words

Question 1

Consequently, nothing indicated any forthcoming improvement in our situation, and I seriously wondered if we were doomed to spend the rest of our lives in this cage.

Answer 1

Forthcomingadjective. About to happen or appear in the near future

Question 2

This prospect seemed increasingly painful to me because, even though my brain was clear of its obsessions from the night before, I was feeling an odd short-windedness in my chest.

Answer 2

Obsessionnoun. A compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion

Question 3

This prospect seemed increasingly painful to me because, even though my brain was clear of its obsessions from the night before, I was feeling an odd short-windedness in my chest.

Answer 3

Prospectverb. To search for or explore for mineral deposits or oil

Question 4

In essence, over an hour’s time a single human being consumes all the oxygen found in 100 liters of air, at which point that air has become charged with a nearly equal amount of carbon dioxide and is no longer fit for breathing.

Answer 4

Consumeverb. To destroy or expend by use; Use up

Question 5

Did he obtain air using chemical methods, releasing the oxygen contained in potassium chlorate by heating it, meanwhile absorbing the carbon dioxide with potassium hydroxide?

Answer 5

Obtainverb. To be established, accepted, or customary

Question 6

Did he simply limit himself to storing the air in high-pressure tanks and then dispense it according to his crew’s needs?

Answer 6

Dispenseverb. Give something out; Distribute something

Question 7

In fact, I had already resorted to speeding up my inhalations in order to extract from the cell what little oxygen it contained, when suddenly I was refreshed by a current of clean air, scented with a salty aroma.

Answer 7

Aromanoun. An agreeable odor

Question 8

In fact, I had already resorted to speeding up my inhalations in order to extract from the cell what little oxygen it contained, when suddenly I was refreshed by a current of clean air, scented with a salty aroma.

Answer 8

Scentnoun. Smell

Question 9

When I had absorbed a chestful of this clean air, I looked for the conduit – the “air carrier,” if you prefer – that allowed this beneficial influx to reach us, and I soon found it.

Answer 9

Conduitnoun. A pipe or channel through which something passes

Question 10

When I had absorbed a chestful of this clean air, I looked for the conduit – the “air carrier,” if you prefer – that allowed this beneficial influx to reach us, and I soon found it.

Answer 10

Influxnoun. A coming in

Question 11

When I had absorbed a chestful of this clean air, I looked for the conduit – the “air carrier,” if you prefer – that allowed this beneficial influx to reach us, and I soon found it.

Answer 11

Preferverb. To hold in higher estimation

Question 12

When I had absorbed a chestful of this clean air, I looked for the conduit – the “air carrier,” if you prefer – that allowed this beneficial influx to reach us, and I soon found it.

Answer 12

Beneficialadjective. Helpful; Useful; Advantageous

Question 13

I had gotten to this point in my observations when Ned and Conseil woke up almost simultaneously, under the influence of this reviving air purification.

Answer 13

Reviveverb. To return to consciousness or life; Become active or flourishing again

Question 14

I had gotten to this point in my observations when Ned and Conseil woke up almost simultaneously, under the influence of this reviving air purification.

Answer 14

Simultaneousadjective. Occurring, done, or existing at the same time

Question 15

I had gotten to this point in my observations when Ned and Conseil woke up almost simultaneously, under the influence of this reviving air purification.

Answer 15

Influencenoun. Ability to sway the will of another

Question 16

“Anyhow,” the harpooner said, “I’m as hungry as all Hades, and dinner or breakfast, not one puny meal has arrived!”

Answer 16

Punyadjective. Tiny, diminutive

Question 17

“Mr. Land,” I answered, “we have to adapt to the schedule on board, and I imagine our stomachs are running ahead of the chief cook’s dinner bell.”

Answer 17

Adaptverb. To make fit often by modification

Question 18

“You never allow yourself any displays of bile or attacks of nerves! You’re everlastingly calm! You’d say your after-meal grace even if you didn’t get any food for your before-meal blessing – and you’d starve to death rather than complain!”

Answer 18

Everlastingadjective. Continuing indefinitely or for a long period of time

Question 19

“Breaking out of a prison on shore is difficult enough, but with an underwater prison, it strikes me as completely unworkable.”

Answer 19

Strikeverb. To form by stamping, printing, or punching

Question 20

“Come now, Ned my friend,” Conseil asked, “how would you answer master’s objection? I refuse to believe that an American is at the end of his tether.”

Answer 20

Refusenoun. Waste or worthless material; Rubbish

Question 21

“Come now, Ned my friend,” Conseil asked, “how would you answer master’s objection? I refuse to believe that an American is at the end of his tether.”

Answer 21

Tethernoun. To fasten or restrain by

Question 22

“No vehement phrases will leave my mouth, no vicious gestures will give my feelings away, not even when they don’t feed us on time.”

Answer 22

Gesturenoun. A movement usually of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea, sentiment, or attitude

Question 23

“No vehement phrases will leave my mouth, no vicious gestures will give my feelings away, not even when they don’t feed us on time.”

Answer 23

Vehementadjective. Marked by intense force or emotion

Question 24

To operate with such efficiency, this underwater boat had to have a sizeable crew, so if it came to a physical contest, we would be facing an overwhelming opponent.

Answer 24

Overwhelmverb. To make helpless, as with greater force or deep emotion; Overcome; Crush; Overpower

Question 25

And if the strange commander of this boat did have a secret to keep – which seemed rather likely – he would never give us freedom of movement aboard his vessel.

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Now then, would he resort to violence in order to be rid of us, or would he drop us off one day on some remote coast?

Answer 26

Remoteadjective. Far away from other communities, houses; Isolated

Question 27

All these hypotheses seemed extremely plausible to me, and to hope for freedom through use of force, you had to be a harpooner.

Answer 27

Plausibleadjective. Probable, likely, trustworthy, believable

Question 28

Little by little, I heard those aforesaid cusswords welling up in the depths of his gullet, and I saw his movements turn threatening again.

Answer 28

Aforesaidadjective. Said in a preceding part or before

Question 29

Tortured by the growling of his well-built stomach, Ned Land was getting more and more riled, and despite his word of honor, I was in real dread of an explosion when he stood in the presence of one of the men on board.

Answer 29

Growlverb. Make a low threatening sound

Question 30

Tortured by the growling of his well-built stomach, Ned Land was getting more and more riled, and despite his word of honor, I was in real dread of an explosion when he stood in the presence of one of the men on board.

Answer 30

Rileverb. To make agitated and angry; Upset

Question 31

The vessel hadn’t stirred, because I obviously would have felt its hull vibrating under the influence of the propeller.

Answer 31

Hullnoun. Body of a ship

Question 32

The vessel hadn’t stirred, because I obviously would have felt its hull vibrating under the influence of the propeller.

Answer 32

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

Question 33

The gentleness of the man’s gaze, the generosity expressed in his facial features, the nobility of his bearing, all vanished from my memory.

Answer 33

Facialadjective. Pertaining to the face

Question 34

I viewed him as outside humanity, beyond all feelings of compassion, the implacable foe of his fellow man, toward whom he must have sworn an undying hate!.

Answer 34

Implacableadjective. Incapable of being appeased or mitigated

Question 35

I viewed him as outside humanity, beyond all feelings of compassion, the implacable foe of his fellow man, toward whom he must have sworn an undying hate!.

Answer 35

Compassionnoun. Sympathy, helpfulness or mercy

Question 36

But even so, was the man going to let us die of starvation, locked up in this cramped prison, exposed to those horrible temptations to which people are driven by extreme hunger?

Answer 36

Crampedadjective. Restricted; Narrowed

Question 37

This grim possibility took on a dreadful intensity in my mind, and fired by my imagination, I felt an unreasoning terror run through me.

Answer 37

Terrornoun. A state of intense fear

Question 38

This grim possibility took on a dreadful intensity in my mind, and fired by my imagination, I felt an unreasoning terror run through me.

Answer 38

Grimadjective. Very serious and unsmiling in appearance

Question 39

Conseil was already trying to loosen the harpooner’s hands from his half-suffocated victim, and I had gone to join in the rescue, when I was abruptly nailed to the spot by these words pronounced in French.

Answer 39

Pronouncedadjective. Very noticeable

Question 40

Conseil was already trying to loosen the harpooner’s hands from his half-suffocated victim, and I had gone to join in the rescue, when I was abruptly nailed to the spot by these words pronounced in French.

Answer 40

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

Question 41

Conseil was already trying to loosen the harpooner’s hands from his half-suffocated victim, and I had gone to join in the rescue, when I was abruptly nailed to the spot by these words pronounced in French.

Answer 41

Suffocateverb. Cause or have difficulty in breathing