Extensive Reading-Book A Unit 77 (E)

aggravate

intensify for the worst
Some people aggravate their skin by tanning.

antechamber

a chamber or room that serves as a waiting room
Before going into the meeting room, please wait in the antechamber until we call you.

bedrock

unbroken solid rock
It is good if we built the foundation on the bedrock, because that’s solid rock down there.

bizarre

odd, whimsical
Something bizarre happened this morning. I thought it was the weekend when it was clearly Tuesday.

convince

to cause someone to believe something
By offering his house as collateral, the aspiring restaurant owner convinced the bank to grant him a loan.

curse

the expression of a wish that misfortune, evil, doom
The woman spout curses at the ill-gotten man.

financier

a person skilled or engaged in managing large financial operations
The financier dealt with the corporation’s total revenue.

hastened

move or act quickly
We hastened to the next town, because we were getting restless in the car.

hunch

a premonition or suspicion; guess
Call it a hunch, but I think something bad is going to happen.

meticulous

extremely careful
The researcher was meticulous in following the research procedure.

millennia

a period of 1000 years.
Many millennia ago, the Chinese discovered gunpowder.

monumental

of historical or enduring significance
By discovering a new alternative source of energy, it was a monumental step to better and safe technology.

porcelain

a fine, white, translucent china
Ancient China was known for their artistic porcelain vases.

priceless

having a value beyond all price
The memories we have are priceless.

priority

arrange in order of importance
It is in our highest priority that we see our son do well in school.

rubble

rough, broken stones
The war turned huge towers into broken rubble.

sarcophagus

a stone coffin
Many great pharaohs and leaders were buried in a magnificent sarcophagus.

solidified

to make solid; make into a hard or compact mass
The water solidified in the freezing weather.

speculate

theorize, conjecture
Many people speculate which team will end up in the playoffs during regular season.

veteran

experienced through long service or practice
The veteran worker knew all there was to his job than the rookie.