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Page 171

3rd Day

New Words

in vek′ tiv

A Worthy Successor

A successor to Beethoven was Johannes Brahms. Also a prodigy,* he was the object of vitriolic attacks by other composers because of the individuality of his work. They heaped invective upon him for the intensely emotional quality and Germanic style of his writings. However, it was impossible to besmirch his talents for long, and he was soon one of the most popular composers in Europe. He produced voluminous varieties of compositions. Today, in retrospect, his originality is appreciated, and he is placed among the top romantic composers.

Sample Sentences

Complete the following sentences with the new words.

1.It is difficult to keep __________ out of our discussion about the enemy.

2.One has to be amazed at the __________ amount of information that can be stored on a computer chip.

3.The candidate tried to __________ his opponent's record.

4.In the future we will, in __________, regard today's bizarre* behavior as quite ordinary.

5.The __________ language used by critics of the new play tended to obliterate* its good qualities. Definitions

Study the paragraph and sample sentences for the meanings.

Today's Idiom

to bring down the houseto cause great enthusiasm

Page 172

4th Day

New Words

Gruff but Likeable

In his private life Brahms was considered by his friends as an egotist. He had an extremely lofty opinion of himself and his talents. He was not noted for his humility. Along with this quality, Brahms was known for his pungent sense of humor. While his closest friends could accept his biting jokes, others found him difficult to warm up to. Brahms was an inveterate stay-at-home. Cambridge University conferred an honorary degree upon him, but he was adamant about staying at home and did not go to receive the honor. Despite the ardent* and romantic nature of his music, Brahms never found the right girl and remained single throughout his life.

Sample Sentences

Use the new words in these sentences.

1.Doctors agree that it is imperative* that __________ smokers give up that imprudent* habit.

2.The __________ odor of burning leaves marks the autumn season.

3.The umpire was __________ about his decision to call the runner out.

4.We all expect __________ from the actors and actresses who win the Academy Awards.

5.However, we should not be surprised that an award winner is an __________ about his or her performance. Definitions

Make the new words yours through the match-ups.

Today's Idiom

to pull one's weightto do a fair share of the work