1100 Words, Week 18, Day 2

1100 Words, Week 18, Day 2

New Words

veneer – myriad – urbane – crave – irrelevant

Words in Context

Chimpanzees Are Surprisingly Smart

Washoe, the chimpanzee, has more than a veneer of intelligence; she can signal her desire to eat, go in or out, be covered, or brush her teeth. In addition, she can make signs for “I’m sorry,” “I hurt,” “Hurry,” ”Give me,” and a myriad of other terms that are familiar to young children. This urbane animal can indicate that she craves more dessert by putting her fingers together (“more”) and then placing her index and second fingers on top of her tongue (“sweet”). It is irrelevant that Washoe cannot actually talk. What is important, however, is the consummate* ease with which she has mastered her daily assignments.

Sample Sentences

Use the new words in the following sentences.
1. Why did Silas Marner crave wealth and practice cupidity*?
2. Once the hoax had been concocted*, a myriad of problems arose.
3. The defendant was alleged* to have been an army deserter, but the judge said that was irrelevant to the case.
4. By embellishing* her work with urbane humor, the sophisticated playwright succeeded on Broadway.
5. The lieutenant confessed to a veneer of ignorance in order to properly evaluate* his corporal’s resourcefulness.*