Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know (MCQ Test + PDF) Week 13

Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know (MCQ Test + PDF) Week 13 - Day 3

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Question 1

THE SQUASH COURT EXPERIMENT

As the pile grew, so did the entire project. Fermi moved his materials to an abandoned squash court under a football stadium at the University of Chicago. His pace accelerated because they were proceeding on the premise that the Germans were close to atomic success. Six weeks after the pile had been started, its critical size was reached. Three brave young men jeopardized their lives by ascending the pile, ready to cover it with liquid cadmium if anything went wrong. Almost fifty scientists and several incredulous observers mounted a balcony to watch. One physicist remained on the floor; it was his job to extract the final cadmium control rod. Unbearable tension permeated the atmosphere. Fermi completed his calculations, waited for a propitious moment, and then gave the signal.

Sample Sentences: Use the new words in the following sentences.

Acting on the _____ that there were no burglars around, the police became quite lax.

A	permeated
B	premise
C	propitious
D	incredulous
E	jeopardize

Question 1 Explanation:

A premise is an idea you accept as true and use as the basis for your actions or conclusions. Acting on the premise that… means acting on the belief that something is true. In the passage, Fermi's team worked on the premise that the Germans were close to atomic success.

Question 2

After I had perused the Yankee lineup, I was _____ about their chances of winning.

A	permeated
B	premise
C	propitious
D	incredulous
E	jeopardize

Question 2 Explanation:

Incredulous means unwilling or unable to believe something, so doubtful or skeptical. After studying the lineup, the speaker doubted that the Yankees could win. Not propitious, because that word describes favorable conditions or moments, not a person's feelings.

Question 3

The trapeze artist was squeamish about having to _____ his life.

A	permeated
B	premise
C	propitious
D	incredulous
E	jeopardize

Question 3 Explanation:

Jeopardize means to put something in danger. The gap follows to, so it needs a base-form verb that can take his life as its object: to jeopardize his life. In the passage, three young men jeopardized their lives by climbing the pile.

Question 4

A terrible odor that was impossible to expunge _____ the skunk handler’s clothing.

A	permeated
B	premise
C	propitious
D	incredulous
E	jeopardize

Question 4 Explanation:

Permeate means to spread through every part of something. Here the bad smell spread all through the clothing, so the past-tense verb permeated fits. Compare the passage: Unbearable tension permeated the atmosphere.

Question 5

At a _____ moment the flamboyant movie star made her grand entrance.

A	permeated
B	premise
C	propitious
D	incredulous
E	jeopardize

Question 5 Explanation:

Propitious means favorable, or likely to bring a good result. The movie star waited for the best moment to make her grand entrance. A propitious moment is a common collocation, and the passage has the same phrase: Fermi waited for a propitious moment.

Question 6

Definitions: Match the new words with their meanings.

premise

A	favorable
B	endanger
C	to spread through
D	skeptical
E	grounds for a conclusion

Question 6 Explanation:

A premise is a statement or idea taken as true and used as grounds for a conclusion or for action. Example: His argument rests on a false premise.

Question 7

jeopardize

A	favorable
B	endanger
C	to spread through
D	skeptical
E	grounds for a conclusion

Question 7 Explanation:

To jeopardize something means to endanger it, or put it at risk. Example: Missing classes could jeopardize your exam results.

Question 8

incredulous

A	favorable
B	endanger
C	to spread through
D	skeptical
E	grounds for a conclusion

Question 8 Explanation:

Incredulous means skeptical: not able or not willing to believe something. Example: She gave him an incredulous look when he said he had finished the book in one hour.

Question 9

permeate

A	favorable
B	endanger
C	to spread through
D	skeptical
E	grounds for a conclusion

Question 9 Explanation:

To permeate means to spread through something completely. Example: The smell of coffee permeated the whole house.

Question 10

propitious

A	favorable
B	endanger
C	to spread through
D	skeptical
E	grounds for a conclusion

Question 10 Explanation:

Propitious means favorable, or giving a good chance of success. Example: The sunny weather was propitious for the picnic.

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NEW WORDS

premise [prem´ is]

“That train of reasoning has all the various parts and terms—its major premise and its conclusion.” T. H. Huxley, “We Are All Scientists”

jeopardize [jep´ ər dīz]

“Cancellation of the event would have jeopardized the financial survival of the organization.” Nat Hentoff, “Picket Lines are Labor’s Free Speech,” Village Voice, 6/15/99

incredulous [in krej´ ə ləs]

“The Nazi war on cancer?—other readers may be as incredulous as I was when this book came to my attention.” Michael Sherry, New York Times, 5/23/99