Chapter 1: Core Vocabulary I

Question 1

AMBIVALENT

Answer 1

Having mixed or opposing feelings at the same time

Question 2

ANOMALY

Answer 2

Deviation from the norm or what is expected;

Question 3

ANOMALOUS

Answer 3

ATYPICAL, full of ANOMALIES

Question 4

SARCASTIC, SARDONIC, SNIDE

Answer 4

Mocking, derisive, taunting, and stinging

Question 5

DEARTH, PAUCITY

Answer 5

A scarcity or shortage of something

Question 6

PRATTLE

Answer 6

To speak in a foolish manner; to babble incessantly

Question 7

WRY, DROLL

Answer 7

Dry; humorous with a clever twist and a touch of irony

Question 8

UNCONVENTIONAL, UNORTHODOX

Answer 8

Not ordinary or typical; characterized by
avoiding customary conventions and behaviors

Question 9

METICULOUS, PAINSTAKING, FASTIDIOUS

Answer 9

Extremely careful; very EXACTING

Question 10

AUDACIOUS

Answer 10

Fearlessly, often recklessly daring; very bold

Question 11

INDIFFERENT, APATHETIC

Answer 11

Marked by a lack of interest or concern

Question 12

DIFFIDENT, SELF-EFFACING

Answer 12

Hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence; unassertive

Question 13

PRAGMATIC

Answer 13

Practical; sensible; NOT idealistic or romantic

Question 14

EVOCATION

Answer 14

An imaginative re-creation of something; a calling forth

Question 15

PRESUMPTUOUS

Answer 15

Taking liberties; brashly overstepping one’s place; impertinently bold

Question 16

RECALCITRANT

Answer 16

Stubbornly resistance and defiant; OBSTINATE; OBDURATE; REFRACTORY; disobedient

Question 17

BOON

Answer 17

A timely benefit; blessing

Question 18

BANE

Answer 18

A source of harm and ruin

Question 19

CLANDESTINE, SURREPTITIOUS

Answer 19

Secret; covert; not open; NOT ABOVEBOARD

Question 20

AFFABLE, AMIABLE, GENIAL, GREGARIOUS

Answer 20

Agreeable; marked by a pleasing
personality; warm and friendly

Question 21

AUSTERE

Answer 21

Having no adornment or ornamentation; bare; not ORNATE

Question 22

AUSTERITY

Answer 22

Great self-denial, economy, discipline; lack of adornment

Question 23

ALTRUISM

Answer 23

Unselfish concern for the welfare of others

Question 24

AMBIGUITY

Answer 24

The quality or state of having more than one possible meaning

Question 25

AMBIGUOUS

Answer 25

Unclear; uncertain; open to more than one interpretation; not definitive

Question 26

UPBRAID, REPROACH, CASTIGATE

Answer 26

To express disapproval; scold; rebuke; CENSURE

Question 27

NOSTALGIA

Answer 27

A WISTFUL, sentimental longing for a place or time in the past

Question 28

CONJECTURE

Answer 28

An inference based upon guesswork; a SUPPOSITION

Question 29

OBSOLETE, ARCHAIC, ANTIQUATED

Answer 29

No longer in use; outmoded in design or style

Question 30

AUSPICIOUS, PROPITIOUS

Answer 30

Very favorable

Question 31

MOROSE

Answer 31

Very depressed; DESPONDENT; mournful

Question 32

IMPASSE

Answer 32

A deadlock; stalemate; failure to reach an agreement

Question 33

ANACHRONISM

Answer 33

The false assignment of an event, person, scene, or language to a time when the event, person, scene, or word did not exist

Question 34

BELIE

Answer 34

To contradict; to misrepresent; to prove to be false

Question 35

MITIGATE, MOLLIFY, ASSUAGE, ALLEVIATE

Answer 35

To relieve; to lessen; to ease

Question 36

COVET

Answer 36

To strongly desire; to crave

Question 37

COVETOUS

Answer 37

Grasping, greedy, eager to obtain something; AVARICIOUS

Question 38

ANTITHESIS

Answer 38

The direct or exact opposite; extreme contrast; ANTIPODE

Question 39

ANTITHETICAL

Answer 39

Exactly opposite; ANTIPODAL

Question 40

PROTOTYPE

Answer 40

An original model; an initial design

Question 41

ALOOF

Answer 41

Detached; distant physically or emotionally; reserved; standing near but apart

Question 42

TRITE, HACKNEYED, BANAL, PLATITUDINOUS, INSIPID

Answer 42

Unoriginal; commonplace; overused; CLICHÉD

Question 43

ANTECEDENT

Answer 43

A preceding event; a FORERUNNER; a PRECURSOR

Question 44

PLAUSIBLE

Answer 44

Believable; credible

Question 45

IMPLAUSIBLE

Answer 45

Unbelievable; incredible

Question 46

PRUDENT

Answer 46

Careful; cautious; sensible

Question 47

AESTHETIC

Answer 47

Relating to the nature of beauty, art, and taste; having a sense of what is beautiful, attractive, or pleasing

Question 48

PARADOX

Answer 48

A seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless expresses a truth

Question 49

ENIGMATIC, INSCRUTABLE

Answer 49

Mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling

Question 50

ACQUIESCE

Answer 50

To comply; agree; give in

Question 51

NAÏVE, GULLIBLE

Answer 51

Unaffectedly simple; lacking worldly expertise; overly CREDULOUS; unsophisticated

Question 52

AUTONOMY

Answer 52

Independent; not controlled by others; self-governing

Question 53

AUTONOMOUS

Answer 53

Acting independently, or having the freedom to do so

Question 54

FUTILE

Answer 54

Completely useless; doomed to failure

Question 55

INDIGENOUS, ENDEMIC

Answer 55

Native to an area

Question 56

UBIQUITOUS, PREVALENT

Answer 56

Characterized by being everywhere; omnipresent; widespread; PERVASIVE

Question 57

PANDEMIC

Answer 57

An epidemic that is geographically widespread and affects a large proportion of the population

Question 58

FORTITUDE

Answer 58

Strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage