Primates: Part 2

by Jim Ottaviani, Maris Wicks
Using a graphic novel format, this book explores the lives and work of primatologists Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3–Epilogue
25 words 110 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. kin
    group of people related by blood or marriage
    Surely, God, these are my kin.
  2. trek
    any long and difficult trip
    For the first few days of that final trek, nothing.
  3. terrain
    a piece of ground having specific characteristics
    The terrain — unbelievable.
  4. precede
    come before
    Sound preceded sight, odor preceded both.
  5. musky
    resembling the smell of a deer secretion or odorous perfume
    An overwhelmingly musky, barnyard-yet-humanlike stench.
  6. fundamental
    being or involving basic facts or principles
    Women are fundamentally better in the field than men.
  7. preconception
    a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
    I have no use for overtrained people. Too many prejudices and preconceptions.
  8. attain
    gain with effort
    You've attained the maturity you need for the work, and won't act rashly.
  9. rash
    marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
    You've attained the maturity you need for the work, and won't act rashly.
  10. dire
    fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
    A return letter was waiting for me when I got home. It began "Dear Dian, Actually, there isn't any dire need for you to have your appendix removed..."
  11. poacher
    someone who hunts or fishes illegally
    Many poachers. Gorillas bring a high price.
  12. mercenary
    a person hired to fight for another country than their own
    The new president, Mobuto, had brought in white mercenaries to train his soldiers.
  13. colonial
    relating to a body of people who settle far from home
    Soon found myself trapped in a huge castle built by the Belgian colonial administrators.
  14. vandal
    someone who willfully destroys or defaces property
    I'm not a vandal or a thief, but...This is part of my job now.
  15. grimace
    a contorted facial expression
    I mimic their facial grimaces and actions.
  16. dominant
    exercising influence or control
    What they do have is a dominant male. He sets the pace for the whole group.
  17. herbivore
    any animal that feeds chiefly on grass and other plants
    Except for a few insects now and then, they're strictly herbivores.
  18. infamous
    known widely and usually unfavorably
    And of course they give hootseries just before their infamous chest-beating ritual.
  19. competent
    properly or sufficiently qualified, capable, or efficient
    He's competent enough, anyway.
  20. dismal
    causing dejection
    Had to spend many winters there. Dismal — only relief occasional visits to Jane, her mother Vanne, and Louis in London.
  21. compensation
    the act of making amends for service, loss, or injury
    But in compensation it's more convenient for us, yes?
  22. monopolize
    have and control fully and exclusively
    He wanted to monopolize me, but I didn't have much use for that.
  23. acclimatize
    get used to a certain environment
    Their acclimatization is so complete that they sometimes untie Dian's shoes.
  24. hominid
    a member of a family of primate mammals that includes humans
    Are primate studies like this relevant to hominid evolution?
  25. imperative
    requiring attention or action
    Relevant? They are IMPERATIVE!
Created on Tue Jan 21 13:23:16 EST 2020 (updated Wed Jan 22 09:41:15 EST 2020)

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