Max Einstein: The Genius Experiment: Chapters 50–71

by James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein
This first book of the series introduces a twelve-year-old homeless orphan who is unsure whether her real name is Maxine Einstein, but her scientific genius is confirmed when she is recruited by the Change Makers Institute to solve the problems that are threatening the planet.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–10, Chapters 11–21, Chapters 22–33, Chapters 34–49, Chapters 50–71
40 words 7 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. finesse
    subtly skillful handling of a situation
    “This situation requires a little more finesse, Mr. Weber,” he said into a microphone.
  2. plausible
    apparently reasonable, valid, or truthful
    “Klaus will wonder why I didn’t respond to his distress call.”
    “And, if I may, why didn’t you?” asked Dr. Zimm. “Do you have a plausible alibi?”
  3. grudgingly
    in a reluctant manner
    “We need to detain those two,” said Zimm. “They keep protecting the girl.”
    “We will,” said Yahav. “But I’m assuming the girl is still your top priority?”
    Dr. Zimm nodded, grudgingly.
  4. entrepreneurial
    willing to take risks in order to make a profit
    “They need new outlets for their entrepreneurial energy,” said Tisa.
    “To do what?” said Siobhan. “They’re thugs.”
    “For now,” said Tisa. “In Kenya, my father has worked with men who were very similar to this Moise Kabila. Given a choice, many eventually turned to more legitimate business—provided they could make enough money to help their families.”
  5. muse
    reflect deeply on a subject
    “Maybe that can happen here,” mused Max.
  6. camaraderie
    the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
    More laughter. Max was proud of her team. They’d gone through something truly terrifying together and survived. That’ll build camaraderie.
  7. momentous
    of very great significance
    Max paused. Tried to think of something momentous to say. All she could come up with was her favorite Einstein quote: “Imagination is more important than knowledge!”
  8. procure
    get by special effort
    “And,” said the ever-logical Annika, “we need to do it five more times. Klaus procured enough kits for six homes.”
  9. grueling
    characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion
    The team split into sub-teams and, with assistance from Emmanuel and other village children who, once again, stayed home from the mines, they set to work installing solar panels on top of five homes. The work was grueling.
  10. sweltering
    excessively hot and humid; marked by sweating and faintness
    The sun, the source of all the power that would be soon streaming into Kasombumba, was unrelenting. The heat, sweltering.
  11. fiasco
    a complete failure or collapse
    Max had let everybody down. Her first big mission, the one she had chosen, was a huge flop. Worse, a fiasco.
  12. pithy
    concise and full of meaning
    “Rise and shine, Max. And remember what my friend John Archibald Wheeler said: ‘In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.’ Use this moment. Learn from it.”
    She sometimes wished that inner Einstein would just shut up and leave her alone. She wasn’t in the mood for pithy quotes.
  13. swindle
    deprive of by deceit
    “Why aren’t the solar panels working?” she asked.
    “Because they’re cheap,” said Vihaan, sounding annoyed. “Klaus got swindled.”
  14. excursion
    a journey taken for pleasure
    The Restaurant du Zoo was located at the Lubumbashi Zoological Garden, which made the excursion even more fun!
  15. caravan
    a procession traveling together in single file
    She was jostled awake near midnight when the small caravan pulled into Kasombumba.
  16. mangle
    destroy or injure severely
    It looked even worse in the harsh morning light. A tangle of wires. A mountain of broken batteries. Mangled solar panels resembling shattered mirrors.
  17. deter
    try to prevent; show opposition to
    But, throughout all these hardships, Albert Einstein’s mind kept working. His genius could not be deterred or defeated.
  18. dervish
    a Muslim monk of an order noted for fast ceremonial dancing
    “You two are the Solar Blade Design Team.”
    “Can’t we be something cooler sounding, like the Whirling Dervishes?” said Klaus.
  19. appease
    cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
    But for today, the Corp is demanding immediate results. They want this quantum computer. The boy will appease them.
  20. squander
    spend thoughtlessly; throw away
    I will not have her genius squandered here in this desolate location. I need to take her home with me. I have better equipment. A better lab. A better research environment.
  21. desolate
    providing no shelter or sustenance
    I will not have her genius squandered here in this desolate location. I need to take her home with me. I have better equipment. A better lab. A better research environment.
  22. evasive
    avoiding or escaping from difficulty or danger
    “I’m initiating evasive maneuvers,” said Yahav, coolly and crisply. He was doing his best to sound like the crack Israeli security forces member he used to be.
  23. collateral
    accompanying; following as a consequence
    After all, Dr. Zimm really only needed Vihaan to appease the Corp. Klaus was what they called collateral damage.
  24. exploit
    use or manipulate to one's advantage
    To nab Vihaan, Yahav had to exploit his relationship with Klaus.
  25. wretched
    characterized by physical misery
    So, if Klaus proved of little value to the quantum computer project, maybe he would end up mining for cobalt shoulder to shoulder with Emmanuel and all the other wretched children from the village.
  26. hypothesize
    believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
    “B-b-but that was all theoretical hypothesizing,” stammered Vihaan.
    “Which you can now turn into the real deal.”
  27. vicinity
    a surrounding or nearby region
    “The Corp, clearly, has friends in this vicinity.”
  28. ample
    fairly large
    The new boss had an ample belly but thick muscles and a neck that looked like a stump.
  29. glowering
    showing a brooding ill humor
    Max should’ve been afraid of the glowering man.
  30. provoke
    annoy continually or chronically
    “Don’t provoke him.”
    “I won’t. I just want to go over there and do a little research.”
  31. diplomatic
    marked by tact in dealing with sensitive matters or people
    “Charl and Isabl will be coming with us. They’ll be armed, like always. But I think the folks we’ll be visiting on our diplomatic mission might have more weapons.”
  32. venture
    a commercial undertaking that risks a loss
    Because bullying kids around and making them do horrible work isn’t really a career with a very bright future. Now if you got in on the ground floor of a whole new venture, say, the fair-trade garment business, well, the sky’s the limit.
  33. sprawling
    spreading out in different directions
    “From the satellite photos I've seen, the mine company complex is quite sprawling.”
  34. bay
    a compartment in an aircraft used for some specific purpose
    Max shielded her eyes and could make out a man who looked a lot like Yahav sitting up front in the cockpit, working the controls. Two other men that Max didn’t recognize were seated in the open cargo bay behind him.
  35. din
    a loud, harsh, or strident noise
    The helicopter din was just too deafening.
  36. transpire
    come about, happen, or occur
    “Really? Does he know we risked our lives down here? That Vihaan and Klaus got kidnapped? That we had to strike a deal with a very scary warlord to rescue them?”
    “Yes. He is aware of all that has transpired since we left Jerusalem.”
  37. customs
    the place at an airport or port where officials screen incoming travelers and goods
    When she arrived at the airport and passed through customs, she saw a shaggy-haired boy in jeans and a black turtleneck standing in a crowd of chauffeurs.
  38. terminal
    station where vehicles load or unload passengers or goods
    “Yes,” said the benefactor, taking hold of Max’s battered suitcase and leading the way out of the terminal to the parking garage.
  39. legacy
    a gift of personal property by will
    What I really wanted to do was to use my newfound wealth to make the world a better place. To honor my parents’ legacy.
  40. infusion
    the act of introducing a modifying element or quality
    Of course, I also trust Charl and Isabl and that funny old gentleman with the questionable British accent, Lenny Weinstock—all the folks who started the CMI before I gave it my massive cash infusion.
Created on Tue Jun 11 16:56:16 EDT 2024 (updated Wed Jun 12 18:42:33 EDT 2024)

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