Lesson 33 Flashcards
volunteer
person who enters any service of his or her own free will; to offer one’s services
a. The draft has been abolished* and replaced by a volunteer army.
b. Terry did not hesitate* to volunteer for the most difficult jobs.
c. The boys were reluctant* to volunteer their services to help clean up after the dance.
prejudice
an opinion formed without taking time and care to judge fairly; to harm or injure
a. Prejudice against minority* groups will linger* on as long as people ignore* the facts.
b. Eliminating* prejudice should be among the first concerns of a democracy.
c. The witness’s weird* behavior prejudiced Nancy’s case
shrill
having a high pitch; high and sharp in sound; piercing
a. Despite* their small size, crickets make very shrill noises.
b. The shrill whistle of the policeman was warning enough for the fugitive* to stop in his tracks.
c. A shrill torrent* of insults poured from the mouth of the shrieking* woman.
jolly
merry; full of fun
a. The jolly old man, an admitted bigamist,* had forgotten to mention his first wife to his new spouse.*
b. When the jolly laughter subsided,* the pirates began the serious business of dividing the gold.
c. Are you aware* that a red-suited gentleman with a jolly twinkle in his eyes is stuck in the chimney?
witty
cleverly amusing
a. Mr. Carlson’s witty introduction qualifies* him as a first-rate speaker.
b. Fay is too slow to appreciate such witty remarks.
c. The lawyer tried to prosecute* the case by being witty and thereby entertaining the jury.
hinder
hold back; make hard to do
a. Deep mud hindered travel in urban* centers.
b. The storm hindered the pursuit* of the fleeing* prisoners.
c. Mona’s gloomy* nature hinders her relationships with other people.
lecture
speech or planned talk; a scolding; to scold
a. Rarely* have I heard a lecture with such clear illustrations.*
b. Henry’s father lectured him on the awesome* perils* of drug addiction.*
c. A famous journalist* delivered a lecture on prejudice* in the press.
abuse
make bad use of; use wrongly; treat badly; scold very severely; bad or wrong use; bad treatment
a. Those who abuse the privileges of the honor system will be penalized.*
b. The editor* apologized* for the abuse we had suffered as a result of his article.
c. Brutal* abuse of children in the orphanage was disclosed* by the investigation.
mumble
speak indistinctly
a. Ricky mumbled his awkward* apology.*
b. This speech course will encourage* you to stop mumbling and to speak more distinctly.
c. When the witness continued to mumble, the judge asked him to speak up.
mute
silent; unable to speak
a. The usually defiant* child stood mute before the principal.
b. People are no longer willing to remain mute on the subject of abuse* of gun control.
c. The horror of the famine* left the inhabitants* of the land mute with their tragic* memories.
wad
small, soft mass; to roll or crush into a small mass
a. To decrease* the effects of the pressure, the diver put wads of cotton in his ears.
b. The officer challenged* George to explain the wad offifty dollars which he had in his pocket.
c. Because the automatic firing mechanism was defective,* the hunter had to wad the powder into the gun by hand.
retain
keep; remember; employ by payment of a fee
a. Despite* her lack* of funds Mrs. Reilly retained a detective* to follow her spouse*
b. China dishes have the unique* quality* of retaining heat longer than metal pans.
c. Like the majority* of people, I can retain the tune but not the words of a song.
