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Spotlight on the Worker

Let us examine the activities of the altruistic workers in greater detail. After the workers have constructed a hive of waterproof honeycomb (made from beeswax), the queen begins to lay eggs in the first cells. While some workers embellish the hive, others fly out in search of nectar and pollen. With their long tongues they gather nectar and use their hind legs to carry the pollen from the flowers. They fly directly back to the hive and then dance around the honeycomb, their movements indicating the direction of the flowers. Meanwhile, other workers have been cleaning cells, caring for the young, and guarding the precious cache of nectar. Another special coterie is entrusted with heating or cooling the hive. Dedicated to the welfare of the queen and the entire insect community, all of these workers display a complete absence of cupidity.

Sample Sentences

Use the new words in the following sentences.

1.Through a fortuitous* remark, the __________ of the art thieves was discovered.

2.We warned him that his reprehensible* __________ would eventuate* in a loss of all his friends.

3.The good-hearted doctor went into the jungle purely for __________ reasons.

4.A __________ of bridge players made our clubroom their permanent habitat.*

5.Everytime the irate* motorist told about the accident he had a tendency to __________ the story. Definitions

Match the new words with their meanings.

Today's Idiom

to make bricks without strawto attempt to do something without having the necessary materials (In the Bible we read that the Egyptians commanded the Israelites to do so)

My uncle's business schemes always fail because he tries to make bricks without straw.

Answers are on Page 310

Page 102

4th Day

New Words

The Saga of the Queen Bee

Although the virtuosity of the workers is remarkable, the queen bee is really the main story. Workers choose a few larvae to be queens, feeding them royal jelly, a substance rich in proteins and vitamins. While the queen is changing from a larva to a pupa, a team of workers builds a special cell for her. Soon the young queen hatches, eats the prepared honey, and grows strong. After she kills any rivals who have the temerity to challenge her, an amorous note is injected. She flies from the hive and mates with one or more drones on her first flight. Then the process of egg laying begins. When her progeny saturate the hive, scouts are dispatched to find a new location, and the bees swarm after their leader to begin the amazing cycle again.

Sample Sentences

Use the new words in the following sentences; remember, past tenses may be required.

1.A landmark* in the history of __________ drama is Romeo and Juliet.

2.The eminent* artist, famous for his __________, was admired by classicists and beatniks alike.

3.The Bantu chief and all his __________ were noted for their valor.*

4.For having the __________ to declaim* against the majority leader, the freshman senator was given the worst committee assignments.

5.Television in the new century was __________ with the rebirth of the old quiz shows.

Definitions

Match the new words with their meanings.

Today's Idiom

to have the upper handto gain control

I had him at my mercy, but now he has the upper hand.

Answers are on Page 310

Page 103

5th Day Review

Even if you are as busy as the proverbial bee, you can always manage the fifteen to twenty minutes that are required for these daily vocabulary sessions.

Match the twenty words with their meanings. Write the letter that stands for the definition in the appropriate answer space.

Now check your answers on page 310. Make a record of those words you missed.