Vocab Dose - III

Sherlock Holmes's The Book of Life

From a drop of water, a logician could infer the possibility of an Atlantic or a Niagara without having seen or heard of one or the other. So all life is a great chain, the nature of which is known whenever we are shown a single link of it. Like all other arts, the Science of Deduction and Analysis is one which can only be acquired by long and patient study, nor is life long enough to allow any mortal to attain the highest possible perfection in it. Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the enquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems. Let him, on meeting a fellow-mortal, learn at a glance to distinguish the history of the man, and the trade or profession to which he belongs. Puerile as such an exercise may seem, it sharpens the faculties of observation, and teaches one where to look and what to look for. By a man’s finger nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boot, by his trouser knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt cuffs — by each of these things a man’s calling is plainly revealed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent enquirer in any case is almost inconceivable.

An excerpt from Arthur Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet

MATCH THE WORDS WITH THEIR MEANINGS

1. Infer – (in-fur) (v)   2. Deduction – (dih-duhk-shuhn) (n)   3. Acquired – (uh-kwahyuhrd) (v)   4. Attain – (uh-teyn) (v)   5. Mastering – (mah-ster-ing)  (participle)   6. Elementary – (el-uh-men-tree) (adj)   7. Distinguish – (dih-sting-gwish) (v)   8. Trade – (treyd) (n)   9. Puerile – (pyoo-uh-rahyl) (adj) 10. Faculties – (fak-uhl-teez) (n) 11. Callosities – (kuh-los-i-teez) (n) 12. Calling – (kaw-ling) (n) 13. Enlighten – (en-lahyt-n) (v) 14. Inconceivable – (in-kuhn-see-vuh-buhl) (adj)

a.   succeed in achieving (something that one has worked for) b.   of the most basic kind c.   manage to discern (something barely perceptible d.   childishly silly and immature e.   a profession or occupation f.   give greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation g.   not capable of being imagined or grasped mentally; unbelievable h.   the inference of particular instances by reference to a general law or principle i.   thickened and hardened parts of the skin; callus j.   conclude (something) from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements k.   acquiring complete knowledge or skill in (a subject, technique, or art) l.   any occupation pursued as a business or livelihood m.   an inherent mental or physical power n.   learnt or developed (a skill, habit, or quality)

Answers

1. j	2. h	3. n	4. a	5. k
6. b	7. c	8. l	9. d	10. m
11. i	12. e	13. f	14. g