Barron’s 1100 Words You Need to Know (MCQ Test + PDF) Week 40 – Day 4

Actors depend upon their ability to gesticulate* almost as much as upon speech to obtain their desired histrionic* effects. With them, gesture serves much more than merely to augment speech. When their communication is by gesture alone, it is called pantomime. In the early silent motion picture period, gestures were flamboyant.* To show that he was distraught* about the danger in which the heroine had been placed, the hero would go through the most fatuous actions. He would stagger, beat his breast, tear his hair, and contort his face into the most doleful* appearance. There weren’t many simple or restrained gestures in his repertoire. The heroine, to indicate her love, would fling her arms wide and ardently* jump into her sweetheart’s arms. It was only much later that actors became skilled enough to communicate with the audience through discreet* gestures and almost imperceptible changes in facial expression that could transmit nuances* of emotion.

Sample Sentences: Use the new words in these sentences.

The new employee wanted to gain favor with his boss, and his obsequious* desires led to the most _____ behavior.