SYCOPHANTS HAVE BROWN NOSES 29 ORA = to speak, pray inexorable--not mo - PDF document

SYCOPHANTS HAVE BROWN NOSES 29 ORA = to speak, pray inexorable--not movable by any means; inJ1exible, relentless inexorable hand of fate the inexorable march of time oraele--one who gives wise or especiaUy meaningful advice Greek oracle at Delphi the prindpal, our school's oracle Also: oracular, orator, peroration (a long, grandiose speech) HERETIC n. one who differs from accepted beliefor theory "Would you guys hang me as a heretic if I suggested eliminating the Social Comer?" I asked the newspaper staff. They agreed to cut the column and admitted that occasionally heretics have good ideas. (But often the mere suspicion of heresy is fatal. Witches were burned as heretics by fanatics, remember?) CHARLATAN n. a quack orfraud; a cheat, imposter My dad's office is just recovering from being cheated by a master charlatan who posed as a management consultant. The real skill of charlatans is lying, apparently. BIGOT n. one who stubbornly holds to his own opinions I hope age doesn't tum me into a narrow-minded bigot like some I know. I hate prejudice, and bigoted people are usually very opinionated. VER = truth verify-to establish truth or accuracy; to confirm verify his whereabouts try to verify his statement . aver-to statefirmly and convincingly; declare positively "For all averred, I had killed the bird That made the breeze to blow. Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay, That made the breeze to blow!" The Rime ofthe Ancient Mariner, Samuel Taylor Coleridge Also: verdict, verisimilitude, veracious (truthful) 30 SAT WORD FLASH MISER n. a greedy, grasping person (L miser = miserable)
One of my friends is really a miser, in contrast to the rest of us, who are
mainly generous guys. We tease him about being a miserly Scrooge type,
but his stinginess is less amusing as time goes by.
INSURGENT n. a rebel; one who rises up in revolt
As an editor I need to study newspapers, so I'm always aware of
insurgent forces in other countries. My sympathies are with insurgents
whenever they're revolting against a cruel political regime, as in Haiti.
ZEALOT n. a fanatic; someone devoted beyond reason to a
cause or belief
As the self-appointed defender of the family, Dude is our personal zealot.
Daily he patrols our property, barking zealously-fanatically-whenever
a stranger threatens to cross over into his territory.
SKEPfIC n. one who doubts or waits to pass judgment
Thomas Huxley, the famous English biologist, knew that a good scientist
was a skeptic. He said, "Skepticism is the highest of duties, blind faith the
one unpardonable sin." A skeptic is the opposite of a zealot or fanatic.
MEMORY FIX
To learn these new words, write each one on a sheet ofpaper. Also write
a synonym or defmition for each and say the words aloud as you work.
FILL IN THE BLANKS From the words in this chapter, select the one that best completes the meaning and logic of each phrase. which tense or form of the word is required for sense. 1. dangerous crew of armed spearheading
the revolt
2. the -habit of saying one thing while
thinking another
3. needs one _________ week just having fun this summer 4. a true workaholic, a regular _________ for more challenges SYCOPHANTS HAVE BROWN NOSES 31 5.
as _________ as the cycle of the seasons 6.
those practiced _________ who skillfully deceive us 7.
looked like a real diamond, but I was still _________ 8.
a strong autocrat, but even so a benevolent 9.
the _________ in our midst, determined to go against established tradition 10.
suffering from an excess of zeal, a _________ for sure 11.
hoarding his candy like a _________ hoards his wealth 12.
the most _________" prejudiced person I ever met 13.
the servile behavior of a known _________ 14.
necessary that you _________ the accuracy of this report RHYME TIME Complete these couplets of pretty awful poetry (PAP) with the correct form of one of this chapter's new words or an important synonym. 1.
Said Orson Welles, whose size doubled by twice, _________ is not a secret vice." 2.
We keep loony Aunt Tilly up in the attic, 'Cause everyone knows she's a raving _________ 3.
When I need advice on a matter histOrical, I ask my teacher, the school's living _________  32 SAT WORD FLASH 4.
A _________ says, "I was born to doubt, Until the facts of the matter come out." 5.
We couldn't believe he gave her that plant, But he's a toady, you know, a _________ 6.
"Loo)tin' for fun in all the right places," Sings the _________ eager for bright party faces. 7.
Nature's laws we spurn, Only if we're too dimwitted to learn. 8.
I was quick to _________ when 1 testified, That Hugo would never run off or hide. MATCHING In column B, fllld two synonyms or phrases to explain each word in column A, and write their letters on the correct lines. A
B 1. miser a. bias i. fake, fraud 2. heretic b. corroborate j. one in revolt 3. despot c. hoarder k. prejudice 4. charlatan d. nonbeliever 1. fanatical 5. bigotry e. rebel m. Scrooge 6. verify f. tyrant n. overeager 7. zealous g. imposter o.confirm 8. insurgent h. autocrat p. one who differs Answers for this chapter begin on page 198. SYCOPHANTS HAVE BROWN NOSES despot. sycophant. glutton • hedonist. hypocrite • heretic • charlatan • bigot. miser. insurgent.