reading & writing: fill in the blanks 2000 - 2500

cardiologist

a doctor who specializes in the study or treatment of diseases and conditions of the heart and blood vessels

glancing

take a brief or hurried look

endeared

cause to be loved or liked

excrete

separate and expel as waste (a substance or waste matter) from the body or a plant

adding

join (something) to something else so as to increase its size

champions

a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition

mould

a fungus that grows in the form of threadlike filaments (mycelium)

downfall

a loss of power, prosperity, or status.

pros

arguments or considerations in favor of something

cons

arguments or considerations opposed to something

empower

give (someone) the authority or power to do something

amplified

cause to become more marked or intense

execution

the carrying out or putting into effect of a plan

extravert

an outgoing overtly expressive person

discontinuous

broken sequence with gaps

barking

the sharp explosive cry of a dog

blower

a machine or device for blowing air

dredging

clean out the bed of (a harbor or other area) by scooping out mud

carbs

carbohydrates

illustrate

provide (a book etc.) with pictures or drawings

waded

walk with effort through water or mud

deny

state that one refuses to admit the truth or existence of; refuse to grant or allow (something requested)

dissenters

a person who dissents from an established doctrine or policy

macintosh

a type of raincoat

pact

a formal agreement between individuals or parties

decorated

adorn (a place or object) with decorative items

beetles

an insect of a large order distinguished by having forewings thickened and hardened to form wing cases (elytra) that shield the membranous hind wings when at rest

discard

dispose of (something no longer wanted or needed)

competitions

an event or contest in which people take part to establish superiority or in order to win prizes

entitle

give (someone) a legal right or a just claim to receive or do something

editorial

a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue

stature

a person's natural height

rotten

suffering from decay

dynasties

a line of hereditary rulers of a country

durability

the ability to withstand wear or damage

cruel

willfully causing pain or suffering to others

defending

resist an attack made on (someone or something); protect from harm or danger

greed

intense and selfish desire for somethingor food

bosons

a subatomic particle of a type described by Bose-Einstein statistics

devaluation

the reduction or underestimation of the worth or importance of something

cracks

a line on the surface of something along which it has split without breaking into separate parts

citizen

a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth

calm

not showing or feeling nervousness

bought

acquire by paying money for; purchase

reeves

a person in charge of the financial affairs of an organization or district

spill

cause or allow (liquid) to flow over the edge of its container

accumulation

the acquisition or gradual gathering of something

enthusiasms

intense enjoyment or approval

crick

a painful stiffening of muscles

dependency

the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else

leach

dissolve and carry away by the action of a liquid percolating through or over something

bending

shape or force (something straight) into a curve or angle

analytic

relating to or using analysis or logical reasoning

beat

strike (a person or animal) repeatedly and violently so as to hurt or injure them

twain

two

wrap

cover or enclose (someone or something) in paper or soft material

sprout

of a plant) put out shoots; germinate

tints

a shade or variety of a color

chunks

a thick, solid piece of something.

continuity

the unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over a period of time

imposed

force (something unwelcome or unfamiliar) to be accepted or put in place

excite

cause (someone) to have strong feelings of enthusiasm or eagerness

barbarism

absence of culture and civilization; cruelty

indignation

anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment

sweep

move swiftly and smoothly

coauthor

a joint author

drowsy

sleepy and lethargic; half asleep

elegantly

in a graceful and stylish manner

strung

thread (beads or other objects) on a string

hoist

raise (something) by means of ropes and pulleys

overt

done or shown openly; plainly apparent

eureka

an exclamation of triumph at a discovery or invention

conduits

a tube or trough for protecting electric wiring

delights

great pleasure

cliques

a small exclusive group of people

harrowing

acutely distressing

dashing

attractive, adventurous, and full of confidence (typically used of a man).

expose

make (something) visible by uncovering it

vintage

relating to or denoting wine of high quality

glamour

attractiveness or excitement especially associated with wealth and style

shrunk

become or make smaller in size or amount; contract or cause to contract

conferred

grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right).

lattice

an interlaced structure of strips of wood or other material

block

a large solid piece of hard material

bidding

offer (a certain price) for something

emergent

coming into existence or notice

amber

a hard translucent fossil resin originating from extinct coniferous trees of the Tertiary period

export

send (goods or services) to another country for sale

inbred

produced by breeding from closely related people or animals over many generations

ether

a pleasant-smelling colorless volatile liquid that is highly flammable. It is used as an anesthetic and a solvent or intermediate in industrial processes.

exeter

a cathedral city on the River Exe in Devon

excavators

a person or thing that excavates

admire

regard with respect or warm approval

draught

a current of cool air in an enclosed space

throttling

attack or kill (someone) by choking or strangling them

decimal

relating to or denoting a system of numbers and arithmetic based on the number ten

curl

form or cause to form into a curved or spiral shape

overly

excessively

consuls

an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect and promote their government's citizens and interests there

celts

a member of a group of peoples inhabiting much of Europe and Asia Minor in pre-Roman times.

clan

a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent

sown

plant (seed) by scattering it on or in the earth

imparts

make (information) known; communicate

ethic

moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity

bland

lacking strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting

nitric

of or relating to nitrogen

brook

a small stream

carbohydrates

any of a large group of organic compounds occurring in foods and living tissues and including sugars

wise

having or showing experience and good judgment

glean

extract (information) from various sources

calorific

relating to or denoting the energy produced by food or drink as measured in calories

detach

disengage (something or part of something) and remove it

cramps

a painful muscular contraction

enzyme

a substance produced by a living organism which acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction

oxidize

combine or become combined chemically with oxygen

prunes

a dried plum

quirk

a peculiar behavioral habit

spud

a potato

clasts

a fragment of rock and mineral that is produced by weathering and erosion and is incorporated into sedimentary rocks

subsides

become less intense or severe

bony

very thin; emaciated

airline

a company providing a regular public service of air transport on fixed routes

tacit

understood or implied without being stated

wright

a worker in wood; a carpenter or other woodworker

collie

a sheepdog of a breed originating in Scotland with a thick coat and long muzzle

drain

cause the water or other liquid in (something) to run out

corals

a marine invertebrate of a group that includes the corals and jellyfish. Corals typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps.

corpus

a collection of written texts especially the entire works of a particular author or a body of writing on a particular subject

certification

the action or process of certifying or being certified

omega

the last letter of the Greek alphabet

exhorted

strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something

husk

the dry outer covering of some fruits or seeds

revel

enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy way especially with drinking and dancing

pebble

a small rounded stone

leeward

on or on the side sheltered from the wind

coves

a small sheltered bay or inlet

patron

a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, or activity.

brute

a savagely violent person or animal

growl

make a low guttural sound in the throat (of an animal)

pyrotechnics

the art of making or displaying fireworks

dice

small cubes with each side bearing a different number of spots (from one to six)

sorrows

a feeling of deep distress caused by loss or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others

uttered

say something aloud

welter

a large number of items in no order; a confused mass

specks

a tiny spot or particle of dirt or other substance

commentary

an expression of opinions or offering of explanations about an event or situation

electoral

relating to elections or electors

coroners

an official who investigates violent or suspicious deaths to determine the facts about and causes of death

cryptic

having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure

coliseum

a large theater or stadium

mists

a cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere at or near the earth's surface; fog

ditches

a long narrow excavation made in the ground

podcast

a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device

riddle

a question or statement intentionally phrased so as to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer or meaning

loop

a shape produced by a curve that bends round and crosses itself

reflex

an action that is performed without conscious thought as a response to a stimulus

stead

the place or role that someone or something should have or fill (used in place of)

bibs

a cloth or plastic covering tied around a person's neck to protect their clothes while eating

compress

flatten by pressure; squeeze or press

burble

make a continuous murmuring sound

certified

officially recognized as possessing certain qualifications or meeting certain standards

decoy

a person or thing used to lure someone or something into a trap

couch

a long upholstered piece of furniture for several people to sit on

trot

of a horse or other quadruped) proceed or cause to proceed at a pace faster than a walk

vole

a small rodent that typically has a stout body

accrue

receive or accumulate (payments or benefits) over time

strand

a single thin length of thread or wire

anode

an electrode by which conventional current enters a polarized electrical device.

knit

make (a garment etc.) by interlocking loops of wool or other yarn with knitting needles or on a machine

disrobe

remove one's clothes

carcass

the dead body of an animal

boulder

a large rock

irritant

a substance that causes slight inflammation or other discomfort to the body

blunted

make or become less sharp

distract

prevent (someone) from giving full attention to something

isotope

each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei

stiff

rigid; not easily bent or moved

confide

tell someone about a secret or private matter while trusting them not to repeat it to others

committees

a group of people appointed for a specific function

parch

make or become dry through intense heat

weft

the horizontal threads interlaced through the warp in a woven fabric

mule

the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse

confront

meet (someone) face to face with hostile or argumentative intent

chalk

a soft white limestone (a form of calcium carbonate) formed from the skeletal remains of sea creatures

honorary

conferred as an honor, without the usual requirements or functions.

palette

a thin board or slab on which an artist's paints are arranged and mixed

conservatively

in a cautious or prudent manner

lewis

a male given name

exult

show or feel elation or jubilation

mortal

subject to death

muon

an unstable subatomic particle with a negative charge and a mass 207 times that of an electron

cavern

a cave or a large chamber in a cave

levant

the eastern Mediterranean region of western Asia

spasm

a sudden involuntary muscular contraction or convulsive movement

yawn

involuntarily open one's mouth wide and inhale deeply due to tiredness or boredom

terns

a seabird with a slender bill and a forked tail

worthy

having or showing the qualities or abilities that deserve admiration or respect

venal

showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery

warren

a network of interconnecting rabbit burrows

dosage

the size or frequency of a dose of a medicine or drug

bistro

a small restaurant

becks

a small stream

downplay

make (something) appear less important than it really is

delegating

entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person

arbitrator

an independent person or body officially appointed to settle a dispute

barcoding

the identification of species using short genetic sequences

cofounder

a person who is one of the founders of a company or organization

cage

an enclosure made or wire

cartilage

firm flexible connective tissue in vertebrates

ankles

the joint connecting the foot with the leg

pivot

the central point or shaft on which a mechanism turns or oscillates

hollow

having a hole or empty space inside

designate

appoint (someone) to a specified position

corporatism

the organization of a society into industrial and professional corporations serving as organs of political representation and exercising control over persons and activities within their jurisdiction

commencing

begin; start

welch

fail to honor (a debt or commitment)

coating

a layer of a substance that covers a surface

waterfowl

aquatic birds such as ducks or swans

compelled

force or oblige (someone) to do something

complaining

express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something

invent

create or design (something that has not existed before); be the originator of

gales

a very strong wind

mistral

a strong, cold northwesterly wind that blows through the Rhône valley and southern France into the Mediterranean, mainly in winter.

cutworms

a moth larva that cuts down young plants near the ground

appropriation

the action of taking something for one's own use

thatched

cover (a roof or building) with straw or a similar material

sabo

a wooden shoe worn in various European countries

carter

a person who drives or is employed to drive a cart or other vehicle

greets

give a polite word of recognition or sign of welcome to (someone) on meeting

eagerly

in a keenly desirous or enthusiastic manner

cowpox

a contagious viral disease of cattle that causes pustules on the udders and teats

shunted

push or pull (a train or part of a train) from one track to another

debtors

a person or institution that owes money

accountant

a person whose job is to keep or inspect financial accounts

drips

let fall or be let fall in drops

dearn

sad; sorrowful; dismal

dreadfuls

very bad; terrible

irregularly

in an uneven or inconsistent way

check

examine (something) in order to determine its accuracy, quality, or condition, or to detect the presence of something.

chewers

a person or animal that chews

empowered

give (someone) the authority or power to do something

entangled

cause to become twisted together with or caught in

hormonal

relating to hormones

esteem

respect and admiration

affair

an event or sequence of events of a specified kind or that has previously been referred to

decorate

make (something) look more attractive by adding extra items or images to it

discomfort

minor pain or unease

discharged

tell (someone) officially that they can or must leave

zoom

move or travel very quickly

alternate

occurring in turn repeatedly

catamaran

a sailing boat with two hulls joined by a frame

intrusive

causing disruption or annoyance through being unwelcome or uninvited

adobe

a kind of clay used as a building material

clue

a piece of evidence or information used in the detection of a crime or solving of a mystery

transonic

involving or relating to speeds close to that of sound

dietitian

an expert on diet and nutrition

hypodermic

relating to the region immediately beneath the skin

blog

a regularly updated website or web page

database

a structured set of data held in a computer

blossoms

a flower or a mass of flowers

invert

put upside down or in the opposite position

dome

a rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure

standardize

cause (something) to conform to a standard

becquerel

the SI unit of radioactivity, corresponding to one disintegration per second.

desegregation

the ending of a policy of racial segregation

rework

revise or rewrite (something)

buffet

a meal consisting of several dishes from which guests serve themselves

dieters

a person who is on a diet

cheery

noticeably happy and optimistic

conceptualized

form a concept or idea of (something)

cane

the hollow or pithy stem of a tall grass

doodles

scribble aimlessly

delacroix

Eugène Delacroix was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school.

ancestry

one's family or ethnic descent

excitable

responding readily to stimulation

granular

resembling or consisting of granules; grainy

dishonest

behaving or prone to behave in an untrustworthy or fraudulent way

crunching

make a loud grinding or crushing sound

biting

having a sharply critical or cruel quality

disrespect

lack of respect or courtesy

locales

a place where something happens or is set

delicious

highly pleasing to the taste or smell

bernard

a male given name

bean

the edible seed of various plants of the legume family

elevators

a platform or compartment housed in a shaft for raising and lowering people or things to different floors

allergen

a substance that causes an allergic reaction

cringes

bend one's head and body in fear or in a servile manner

continual

forming an unbroken whole; without interruption; continuous

anatomical

relating to the structure of the body

backyard

a yard at the back of a house

confidentiality

the state of keeping or being kept secret or private

defiant

showing defiance

lochs

a lake in Scotland

expanses

an area of something, typically land or sea, presenting a wide continuous surface.

catholic

including a wide variety of things; all-embracing

spectate

be a spectator at an event

blender

an electric mixing machine used in food preparation for liquefying

chess

a board game of strategic skill for two players

martin

a male given name

cough

expel air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound

pertain

be appropriate or applicable

abnormal

deviating from what is normal or usual

compressible

able to be compressed

cantor

an official who sings liturgical solos or leads prayer in a synagogue

deformation

the action or process of deforming or being deformed

gator

an alligator

acre

a unit of land area equal to 4

emphatically

in a forceful way

charivari

a noisy mock serenade made by banging on pots and pans

concocted

create or devise (a story or plan)

crammed

completely fill (a place or container) to the point of overflowing

grail

the object of an extended or difficult quest

gummy

covered with or exuding gum; sticky

carbonado

a black diamond used in industry for cutting and polishing

cone

a solid or hollow object that tapers from a circular or roughly circular base to a point

capsule

a small case or container

cascade

a small waterfall

dissection

the action of dissecting a body or plant to study its internal parts

deviously

in a sneaky or underhanded way

jubilation

a feeling of great happiness and triumph

curveballs

an unexpected problem or difficulty

caloric

relating to or denoting calories

enforce

compel observance of (laws or rules)

administer

take charge of; manage

delays

make (someone or something) late or slow

antimicrobial

able to destroy or suppress the growth of microorganisms including bacteria

enzymatic

relating to or resulting from the action of an enzyme

decomposable

able to be decomposed by bacteria or other natural agents

diametrically

completely different; opposed

amps

a unit of electric current equal to a flow of one coulomb per second

docs

documents

default

a preselected option adopted by a computer program or other mechanism when no alternative is specified by the user or programmer

embarrassing

causing embarrassment

ergonomic

relating to or designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment

defaults

fail to fulfill an obligation

tempted

be attracted or enticed by a quality or action

antisocial

contrary to the laws and customs of society; detrimental to society

blisters

a small bubble on the skin filled with serum and caused by friction

slack

not taut or held tightly in position; loose

eyewitnesses

a person who has seen something happen and so can give a firsthand description of it

stressor

something that causes a state of strain or tension.

confronted

meet (someone) face to face with hostile or argumentative intent

stitch

a loop of thread or yarn resulting from a single pass or movement of the needle in sewing

chin

the protruding part of the face below the mouth

spool

a cylindrical device on which film, magnetic tape, thread, or other flexible materials can be wound; a reel.

degas

remove dissolved gases from (a liquid)

wrens

a very small songbird with a rounded body and a long tail that is often held erect

hamilton

a male given name

dedicate

devote (time

vertebrae

each of the series of small bones forming the backbone

bestowed

confer or present (an honor or gift)

slipped

slide unintentionally for a short distance

spilling

allow or cause to flow over the edge of a container

beekeepers

a person who keeps bees

cysteine

a sulfur-containing semiessential amino acid that is a constituent of proteins

vive

used to express approval or acclamation

fallow

inactive

bloody

covered or smeared with blood

rouge

a red powder or cream used as a cosmetic for coloring the cheeks or lips

carpentry

the work of a carpenter

biochemical

relating to the chemical processes and substances which occur within living organisms

hypocritical

behaving in a way that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case

defeats

win a victory over (someone) in a battle or other contest; overcome

aches

a continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body

abdomen

the front part of the body between the chest and thighs

calmly

in a calm manner

roast

cook (food) by prolonged exposure to heat in an oven or over a fire

accordion

a portable musical instrument with metal reeds blown by bellows

digs

excavate or make a hole or channel in (the ground) with a tool or hands

amyloid

a protein that is deposited in the liver, kidneys, spleen, or other tissues in certain diseases.

rancid

(of foods containing fat or oil) smelling or tasting unpleasant as a result of being old and stale.

cooper

a person who makes or repairs casks and barrels

downswings

a downward trend or movement

encyclopedia

a book or set of books giving information on many subjects or on many aspects of one subject and typically arranged alphabetically

dividend

a sum of money paid regularly (typically annually) by a company to its shareholders out of its profits (or reserves)

squirts

cause (a liquid or semi-liquid substance) to be ejected from a small opening in a jet

dabbed

press lightly and quickly with an absorbent material

rhine

a major European river carrying more traffic than any other river in the world. It rises in the Swiss Alps and flows generally northwards to the North Sea.

detector

a device or instrument designed to detect the presence of a particular object or substance and to emit a signal in response.

grebes

a freshwater diving bird with a long neck and pointed bill

announce

make a public and typically formal statement about a fact

gabled

having a gable or gables

charcoal

a black or dark gray amorphous form of carbon

belying

fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict

allergy

a damaging immune response by the body to a substance

depress

reduce the level or strength of activity in (something)

ghrelin

a hormone produced by the stomach that stimulates appetite

hurled

throw (an object) with great force

psychic

relating to or denoting faculties or phenomena such as telepathy and clairvoyance that are apparently inexplicable by natural laws

unviable

not capable of working successfully; not feasible

tract

an area of indefinite extent

graves

a hole dug in the ground for a coffin or body

slew

a large number or quantity of something

carrier

a person or thing that carries

hover

remain suspended in one place in the air

crab

a crustacean with a broad carapace and two pincers.

culminated

reach a climax or point of highest development

rafts

a flat buoyant structure of timber or other materials fastened together, used as a boat or floating platform.

monk

a member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty

potash

any of a group of water-soluble potassium compounds used chiefly in fertilizers and soaps

bowyer

a person who makes or sells bows.

farmyard

the area enclosed by or surrounding farm buildings

angular

having angles or sharp corners

brainstorming

produce an idea or way of solving a problem by holding a spontaneous group discussion

erasable

able to be erased

bailey

the outer wall of a castle courtyard.

commanding

having a position of authority; dominating

benches

a long seat for several people

tiring

causing one to feel tired or in need of rest; exhausting

stanzas

a group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem; a verse.

expository

intended to explain or describe something

winding

following a spiral course

angrily

in an angry manner

climber

a person or animal that climbs

chimneys

a vertical channel or pipe that conducts smoke and combustion gases up from a fire or furnace and typically through the roof of a building.

clip

fasten or secure with a clip

complaint

an expression of dissatisfaction or annoyance

warbler

a small songbird with a warbling song.

faecal

relating to feces.

cubicles

a small partitioned-off area of a room

factoid

an assumption or speculation that is circulated and accepted as fact

chronicle

a factual written account of historical events in the order of their occurrence.

gleeful

exuberantly or triumphantly joyful.

colombian

relating to or characteristic of Colombia or its people.

legibly

in a clear enough way to be read.

counterfactual

relating to or expressing what has not happened or is not the case.

collides

strike with force when moving; crash into.

preliterate

relating to or denoting societies or cultures that have not developed the use of writing.

tycoon

a wealthy powerful person in business or industry.

rebecca

a female given name

carats

a unit of weight used for precious stones

fantastical

imaginative or fanciful; remote from reality.

caesar

a title of the Roman emperors from Augustus to Hadrian.

effortlessly

with apparent ease.

cytochrome

any of a number of proteins involved in electron transport

waterway

a river or other route for travel by water.

creditor

a person or company to whom money is owed.

neal

a male given name

fastpaced

moving or developing rapidly.

donating

give (money or goods) for a good cause, for example to a charity.

composting

convert (plant waste) into compost.

diddy

small; tiny.

detoxifying

rid (a person) of poisons or the effects of poison.

encephalization

the amount of brain mass related to an animal's total body mass.

outpacing

go faster than (someone or something) in a race or other situation.

unwound

reverse the winding of (something).