Wordly Wise Book 7 Lesson 13

Front 1

Arduous

Back 1

adj. Requiring much effort; very difficult.

Frequent sandstorms made the arduous trek across the Sahara Desert even more difficult.

Front 2

Canny

Back 2

adj. Shrewd and careful; watchful of one's own interests.

A canny student knows what to study for a test.

Front 3

Climax

Back 3

n. The highest point; the greatest moment or event.

Roberto Clemente's winning home run in the World Series was a terrific climax to the season.

Front 4

Endorse

Back 4

v. To sign the back of a check before cashing or depositing it.

The bank teller wouldn't cash my dad's check until he had endorsed it.

2. To approve of; to support.

Newspapers often endorse candidates for public office.

3. To be favorably associated with a product in return for payement.

Some well-known athletes are paid millions to endorse products on television.

Front 5

Exuberant

Back 5

adj. Happy and excited; bubbling over with enthusiasm.

Our friends gave us an exuberant welcome when we arrived.

Front 6

Exuberance

Back 6

n. The quality of being exuberant.

The steady rain could not dampen the exuberance of fans gathered for the rock festival.

Front 7

Intrepid

Back 7

adj. Feeling or showing no fear; brave; courageous.

The intrepid astronauts brought their crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft safely back to Earth.

Front 8

Kindle

Back 8

v. To start burning.

A spark from the woodstove kindled some for the rags and started the fire.

2. To cause to become excited or stirred up.

The museum's exhibition of Navajo pottery kindled my interest in Native American culture.

Front 9

Kindling

Back 9

n. Sticks used to start a fire.

There were plenty of dry twigs to provide kindling for the camp fire.

Front 10

Lucrative

Back 10

adj. Producing wealth or profit.

Our project team believes that a dog-walking service could be a lucrative business.

Front 11

Mentor

Back 11

n. A wise and loyal friend and adviser.

As president of the college she founded, Mary McLeod Bethune was a mentor to many young African American women.

Front 12

Obsession

Back 12

n. An interest, idea, or feeling that fills one's mind and leaves little room for anything else.

Finishing her second novel has become an obsession and leaves her little time for other activities.

Front 13

Personable

Back 13

adj. Pleasing in manner and appearance.

The restaurant's personable staff made our meal a pleasant one.

Front 14

Proficient

Back 14

adj. Able to do something very well; skillful.

All the mechanics in the garage are proficient in car repairing.

Front 15

Proficiency

Back 15

n. The quality of being proficient.

My cousin's proficiency in Japanese enabled her to make many friends in Tokyo.

Front 16

Scanty

Back 16

adj. Not enough or just barely enough; small in size or amount.

After a scanty meal bread and an apple, we continued our journey.

Front 17

Strait

Back 17

n. A narrow body of water connecting two larger ones.

The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Front 18

Straits

Back 18

n. Trouble or need.

When both parents lost their jobs, their family was in desperate straits.

Front 19

Zest

Back 19

n. Great enjoyement; excitement.

Learning to cook meals from many cultures has added zest to our dinners.

Front 20

Zestful

Back 20

adj. Full of zest.

During the second week of my new exercise program, I awoke each day feeling zestful and ready for a five-mile run.