Lesson 29
1. toil /tɔɪl/ (v,n) hard work; to work hard; move with difficulty
a. The feeble* old man toiled up the hill.
b. After years of toil, scientists disclosed* that they had made progress in controlling the dreaded* disease.
c. Despite* all his toil, Fred never succeeded in reaching his goal.
2. blunder /ˈblʌn.də r / (n) stupid mistake; to make a stupid mistake; stumble; say clumsily
a. The exhausted* boy blundered through the woods.
b. Bert’s awkward* apology* could not make up for his serious blunder.
c. The general’s blunder forced his army to a rapid* retreat.
3. daze /deɪz/ (v) confuse
a. The severity* of the blow dazed the fighter and led to his defeat.
b. When he ventured* out of the house at night, the child was dazed by the noise and the lights.
c. Dazed by the flashlight, Maria blundered* down the steps.
4. mourn /mɔːn/ (v) grieve; feel or show sorrow for
a. Sandra did not cease* to mourn her lost friend.
b. The entire city mourned for the people lost in the calamity.*
c. We need not mourn over trifles.*
5. subside /səbˈsaɪd/ (v) sink to a lower level; grow less
a. After the excessive* rains stopped, the flood waters subsided.
b. The waves subsided when the winds ceased* to blow.
c. Danny’s anger subsided when the culprit* apologized.*
6. maim /meɪm/ (v) cripple; disable; cause to lose an arm, leg, or other part of the body
a. Auto accidents maim many persons each year.
b. Though he went through an awesome* experience in the crash, Fred was not seriously maimed.
c. Car manufacturers insist* that seat belts can prevent the maiming of passengers in the event of a crash.
7. comprehend /ˌkɒ[Link]ɪˈhend/ (v) understand
a. If you can use a word correctly, there is a good chance that you comprehend it.
b. You need not be a pauper* to comprehend fully what hunger is.
c. My parents say that they cannot comprehend today’s music.
8. commend /kəˈmend/ (v) praise; hand over for safekeeping
a. Everyone commended the mayor’s thrifty* suggestion.
b. Florence commended the baby to her aunt’s care.
c. The truth is that we all like to be commended for good work.
9. final /ˈfaɪ.nəl/ (adj) coming last; deciding
a. The final week of the term is rapidly* approaching.
b. Jose was commended* for his improvement in the final test.
c. The final censor* of our actions is our own conscience.
10. exempt /ɪgˈzempt/ (v) make free from; freed from
a. Our school exempts bright pupils from final* exams.
b. School property is exempt from most taxes.
c. Juvenile* offenders are not exempt from punishment.
11. vain /veɪn/ (adj) having too much pride in one’s ability, looks, etc.; of no use
a. Josephine is quite vain about her beauty.
b. To be perfectly frank, I do not see what she has to be vain about.
c. Brian made numerous* vain attempts to reach the doctor by telephone.
12. repetition /ˌrep.ɪˈtɪʃ.ən/ (n) act of doing or saying again
a. The repetition of new words in this book will help you to learn them.
b. Any repetition of such unruly* behavior will be punished.
c. After a repetition of his costly mistake, Jerry was fired from his job.
Words in Use
Read the following passage to see how the new words are used in it.
Camp Safety
For years a furniture salesman from Connecticut, Mitch Kurman, has toiled ceaselessly* for the passage of a youth
summer camp safety bill. Why? Because his son David was drowned when his canoe overturned in the raging*
waters of the Penobscot River. The camp counselors leading the trip were inexperienced, had blundered into
dangerous waters, and had no life jackets for the canoers.
Mr. Kurman was naturally dazed by the tragedy.* But rather than merely mourn his loss and wait for the painful
memory to subside, he began a campaign that took him on hundreds of journeys to speak to governors, senators,
and congressmen. He had learned that 250,000 chil dren are injured or maimed annually* in camp accidents. It was
hard for him to comprehend why we have laws that outlaw* mistreatment of alligators, coyotes, birds and bobcats,
but we have no law to prevent disasters* to children in summer camps.
Wherever he went, Mr. Kurman was commended for his efforts, but he received only trifling* support from the
lawmakers. One bill, requiring people to put on life preservers when they took to the water, died in the final
reading. Another such bill exempted private ponds and lakes, exactly the waters where most summer camps are
located.* Even a bill calling for a survey of camp safety conditions was at first defeated. Mr. Kurman’s struggle so
far has been in vain, but he continues his battle to avoid* a repetition of the accident that took his son’s life.
Fill in the Blanks
Place one of the new words in each of the blanks below.
1. There is a tendency* to _____________ politicians from keeping campaign promises.
2. A _____________ of such a blunder* could be disastrous.
3. The guide* was compelled* to admit he had _____________ far from the intended route.
4. A miserly* person cannot _____________ the joy of sharing.
5. Though doctors _____________ to cure the undernourished* child, he never regained his full health.
6. Three workers were _____________ when the ladder collapsed.*
7. The policeman was _____________ for his bravery in capturing the armed outlaw.*
8. The perfect attendance of our class illustrated* the importance of this _____________ exam.
9. Friend and foe united* in _____________ the death of the leader, for she was respected by all.
10. The drowning man’s cries were uttered* in _____________, because no one was near to hear them.
11. Miguel’s fever _____________ after he took the medicine.
12. My brother was in such a _____________ over the tragedy* that he could hardly respond* to questions.
Matching
Match the 12 new words in Column I with the definitions in Column II.
Column I Column II
1. comprehend a. grieve
2. repetition b. hard work
3. exempt c. sink to a lower level
4. vain d. coming last
5. commend e. stupid mistake
6. maim f. act of doing or saying again
7. toil g. praise
8. final h. make free from
9. blunder i. understand
10. mourn j. disable; cripple
11. daze k. confuse
12. subside l. having too much pride in one’s ability, looks, etc.
