Question 1
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.
Through a fortuitous remark, the _____ of the art thieves was discovered.
A cache is a secret hiding place, or the hidden store of things kept there. The art thieves had hidden what they stole, and a lucky (fortuitous) remark revealed that hiding place. In the passage, the bees guard their precious cache of nectar. Not coterie: a coterie is a small group of people, and the thieves themselves are not what was hidden and found.
Question 2
We warned him that his reprehensible _____ would eventuate in a loss of all his friends.
Cupidity means greed, a strong desire for money or possessions. The gap needs a noun after his reprehensible, and greed is a fault that could eventuate in (end in) the loss of all his friends. The passage says the worker bees show a complete absence of cupidity.
Question 3
The good-hearted doctor went into the jungle purely for _____ reasons.
Altruistic means unselfish, acting for the good of others. The gap needs an adjective before reasons, and good-hearted and purely show that the doctor wanted nothing for himself. The passage calls the worker bees altruistic because they work for the whole community.
Question 4
A _____ of bridge players made our clubroom their permanent habitat.
A coterie is a small group of people who share an interest. Here the shared interest is bridge (a card game). The pattern A _____ of bridge players needs a noun for a group. In the passage, a special coterie of bees heats or cools the hive.
Question 5
Every time the irate motorist told about the accident he had a tendency to _____ the story.
To embellish a story is to touch it up, adding details that make it more exciting but are often untrue. The gap comes after to, so it needs a verb, and embellish is the only verb among the options. Example: He always embellishes his fishing stories.
Question 6
Definitions: Match the new words with their meanings.
altruistic
Altruistic means unselfish, caring about the welfare of others more than about oneself. Example: an altruistic doctor who works for free.
Question 7
embellish
Embellish means to adorn (decorate) something, or to touch up a story by adding details. Example: Some workers embellish the hive.
Question 8
cache
A cache is a secret hiding place, or the hidden supply stored in it. Example: a cache of nectar. Don't confuse it with cash (money); both words sound the same.
Question 9
coterie
A coterie is a small, often exclusive group of people who share an interest or activity. Example: a coterie of bridge players.
Question 10
cupidity
Cupidity means greed, an excessive desire for money or possessions. Example: The bees show a complete absence of cupidity.
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Free worksheets for class or home
NEW WORDS
- altruistic [al´ trü is´ tik]
“The conflict is between selfishness and altruism.” Former Senator Estes Kefauver, campaign speech
- embellish [em bel´ ish]
“The prioress may not have told the correct story in all its details and she may even have embellished the story a little bit to make it more attractive.” Lin Yutang, “The Jade Goddess”
- cache [kash]
“Fagin drew from his cache the box which he had unintentionally disclosed to Oliver.” Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist
- coterie [kō´ tərē]
“The aristocratic coterie finally got the upper hand.” Edith Hamilton, The Greek Way
- cupidity [kyü pid´ ə tē]
“There is little real humor in this picture of cunning and cupidity as revealed by a petty contest for a paltry sum.” Liam O’Flaherty, “A Shilling”
TODAY’S IDIOM
to make bricks without straw—to 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.