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Wordsearch 16

Using the clues listed below, fill in each blank in the following story with one of the new words you learned this week.

Cheating a Cheater

''Our neighborhood was so tough," the comedian joked, "that two guys held up a bank and were mugged as they ran to their getaway car."

Later that evening, as Roy and Timmy were discussing the comic's routine, Roy was reminded of a true (he said) story that went like this:

Mr. D., the gang kingpin in our community, loved money. Like Silas Marner, the __________ weaver of George

Eliot's novel, he enjoyed counting his treasure each Friday night. Mr. D's __________ was concealed in a wall safe behind a painting in his office. The $50 and $100 bills made his hands dirty as he counted them but Mr. D didn't mind. The filth of the lucre did not disturb him at all.

One Friday evening, Roy continued, a brash __________ had the __________ to try to steal the ill-gotten gains. Having bought the combination from a relative who had installed Mr. D's safe, he stuffed his loot into a

laundry bag and was halfway out the door when he spied a $10 bill on the floor. His __________ made him go back for that small change, and in that moment, Mr. D. arrived on the scene.

The quick-thinking thief blurted out, "I'll have the shirts back on Friday." Hoisting the laundry bag over his shoulder, he was out the door before the confused mobster could figure out what had happened.

Timmy, who had listened patiently, said, "I don't believe a word of that story because it would take a guy with a great deal of starch to pull it off!"

Clues

2nd Day

3rd Day

1st Day

4th Day

3rd Day

Answers are on Page 310

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17th Week

1st Day

New Words

kon kokt′

A Plan to Fool the Nazis

One of the truly remarkable stories of World War II concerns a ruse* that was perpetrated with such consummate skill that it saved the lives of many Allied troops and helped to shorten the war. The simple, bold, and ingenious subterfuge which British officers concocted is the subject of Ewen Montagu's classic, The Man Who Never Was. In short, the idea was to plant fallacious documents concerning the Allied invasion of Europe upon a dead officer, have his body recovered by agents who would transmit the false information to Germany, and then observe the effects of the plan.

Sample Sentences

Use the new words in the following sentences.

1.Because the inspector had given only cursory* attention to the reports, I surmised* that his conclusion would be __________.

2.Johnny Cochrane, the famous and controversial* lawyer, gave __________ attention to the preparation of every case.

3.It was necessary for the interloper* to __________ a convincing story in order to gain access* to the exhibit.

4.In order to __________ the swindle, the jaunty* confidence man adopted an amorous* approach toward the wealthy widow.

5.The experienced teacher realized that Ricky's stomachache was merely a __________ to keep him from taking the French test. Definitions

Match the new words with their meanings.

Today's Idiom

to draw in one's hornsto check one's anger, to restrain oneself

The performer drew in his horns when he saw that his critic was an eight-year-old boy.

Answers are on Page 310

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2nd Day

New Words

frôt

"Major Martin" Goes to War

After Commander Montagu and his colleagues had been given official approval for their dangerous escapade, they encountered manifold problems. First, they conducted an assiduous search for a body that looked as though it had recently been killed in an airplane disaster. Then, a detailed history of the man had to be invented that would be so impeccable that the enemy would accept its authenticity. This meant documents, love letters, personal effects, keys, photographs, etc. Each step was fraught with difficulty, but the schemers were unbelievably resourceful. As a result, in the late spring of 1942, "Major Martin" was prepared to do his part for his country.

Sample Sentences

Use the new words in the following sentences.

1.Burdened by her __________ responsibilities, the young executive was precluded* from enjoying her new wealth.

2.Fear permeated* the crippled airplane as the passengers realized that their situation was __________ with danger.

3.Although basically frugal,* his taste in clothing is __________.

4.The store owner was __________ enough to run a sale the day after his building had been razed* by the flames.

5.Florence Nightingale was a paragon* of mercy in her __________ care for the wounded soldiers.

Definitions

Match the new words with their meanings.

Today's Idiom

to put the cart before the horseto reverse the proper order, do things backwards

My assistant was so eager to get the job done that he often put the cart before the horse.

Answers are on Page 310