O level English - Vocab - from 'Understanding Arguments'

Question 0

charlatan

Answer 0

A person who makes elaborate and fraudulent claims to skill or knowledge. Eg. a ‘quack doctor’.

Question 1

beliefs

Answer 1

Note the spelling. Plural of ‘belief’ (noun) is ‘beliefs’. ‘believes’ is a verb.

Question 2

(to) elude

Answer 2

1. To evade or escape from, as by daring or skill.

2. To escape the understanding and grasp of.

Question 3

evangelist

Answer 3

One who practices evangelism, especially a Protestant preacher or missionary.
Evangelism: zealous preaching of the gospel, as through missionary work.

Question 4

arbitrary

Answer 4

1. Determined by chance, whim, or impulse.

2. Not limited by law.

Question 5

cohesive

Answer 5

Adjective of ‘cohere’: 1. to stick or hold together. (2. to be logically connected.)

Question 6

(to) suppress

Answer 6

1. To put an end to, forcibly; subdue.
2. To keep from being published, revealed, or circulated.
3. To inhibit the expression of; to check. Eg. suppress a smile.

Question 7

premises (of an argument)

Answer 7

1. Premise: A proposition upon which an argument is based or from which a conclusion is drawn.
   (2. Premises: land and the buildings on it.)

Question 8

(to) assert

Answer 8

1. To state positively; affirm.
2. To defend or maintain.
3. To put (oneself) forward boldly or forcefully

Question 9

proposition

Answer 9

1. A plan suggested for acceptance; proposal
   (2. (informal) a matter to be dealt with; task)
   (3. (informal) an offer of a private bargain)
2. A subject for discussion or analysis

Question 10

justification

Answer 10

1. The act of justifying or the condition of being justified
2. Something, such as a fact or circumstance, that justifies
   (to) justify: 1. To demonstrate to be just, right or valid
   (2. To declare free of blame; absolve)
   (3. To demonstrate sufficient legal reason for (an action taken))
   (4. (print) to adjust the spacing within (a line or lines) so as to end evenly at a straight margin)

Question 11

artifact/ artefact

Answer 11

An object, such as a tool, made by human craft

Question 12

(to) convince

Answer 12

To bring to belief by argument or evidence; persuade

Question 13

persuasion

Answer 13

1. The act of persuading or state of being persuaded
2. The ability to persuade
3. A strongly held opinion
   (4. A body of religious beliefs)
   (to) persuade: to induce to undertake a course of action or embrace a point of view by means of argument, reasoning, or entreaty

Question 14

clarity

Answer 14

The quality or condition of being clear

Question 15

certainty

Answer 15

1. The fact, quality or state of being certain

2. Something that is clearly established

Question 16

(to) refute

Answer 16

To prove to be false or erroneous

Question 17

(intellectually) honest

Answer 17

Adverb of ‘ intellectual’: 1. Of, engaging, or requiring use of the intellect / rational
(2. Having a superior intellect / given to abstract or philosophical thought)
Intellect: 1. The ability to learn, reason and understand / the ability to think abstractly or profoundly
(2. A person of great intellectual ability)

Honest: 1. Marked by, or displaying integrity; upright

2. Not deceptive or fraudulent; genuine
3. True, not false / sincere; frank
   (4. Without affectation; plain)

Intellectually honest: example of ‘not’ intellectually honest: refuting an argument without any basis ie. not engaging intellectually but rather, perhaps, based on pride or other motivation, but pretending to be arguing reasonably

Question 18

(to) defy logic

Answer 18

(to) defy: 1. To oppose or resist with boldness
2. To resist or withstand
(3. To dare (someone) to do something)

Logic: 1. The study or the principles of reasoning

2. Valid reasoning, especially as distinguished from invalid or irrational argumentation
   (3. The mathematical operations performed by a computer, such as sorting and comparing, that involve yes-no decisions)

(to) defy logic: to be opposite to what is valid or rational

Question 19

(to) compromise

Answer 19

1. To settle by concessions (yielding)
2. To make a compromise
3. To expose to danger, suspicion, or disrepute

Compromise: (noun) 1. A settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions
2. Something that combines qualities of different things

Question 20

abstract patterns

Answer 20

Abstract (adjective): 1. Considered apart from concrete existence

2. Not applied or practical / theoretical
3. Difficult to understand; abstruse
4. Considered without reference to a specific instance
5. Having an artistic content that depends on intrinsic form rather than pictorial representation

Pattern: 1. A model or an original used as an archetype / a person or thing considered worthy of imitation

2. A plan, diagram or model to be followed in making things
3. A representative sample, specimen or ideal
4. An artistic or decorative design / figure
5. A composite of traits or features

Abstract pattern: combine ‘abstract’ 3 and ‘pattern’ 5: a composite of features that is difficult to understand

Question 21

complementary (note: do not confuse with ‘complimentary’)

Answer 21

Complementary:

1. Forming or serving as a complement (viz. something that completes or makes up a whole)
2. Supplying mutual needs or offsetting mutual lacks

Complimentary:

1. Expressing a compliment (ie. praise or admiration)
2. Given free as a favour or courtesy

Question 22

informal/ formal

Answer 22

Informal (adjective):

1. Not formal or ceremonious; casual
2. Not in accord with prescribed regulations
3. Suited for everyday use

Formal (adjective):

1. Of or involving outward form or structure / being or relating to essential form or structure
2. Following accepted forms or conventions
3. Marked by strict observation of forms
4. Stiff or reserved
5. Done for the sake of procedure only

Question 23

linguistic

Answer 23

Adjective of ‘linguistics’: the study of the nature and structure of human speech

Question 24

streamline

Answer 24

(verb) 1. To construct so as to offer the least resistance to fluid flow 2. To improve the efficiency of

Question 25

contemporary

Answer 25

(adjective) 1. Contemporaneous (existing or happening during the same period of time) 2. Current; modern (noun) 1. One of the same time or age 2. A person of the present age

Question 26

liberal sprinkling of

Answer 26

Liberal: (adjective) 1. Open-minded; tolerant / broad-minded / favoring civil and political liberties, democratic reforms, and protection from arbitrary authority 2. Tending to give freely; generous / abundant; ample 3. Not strict or literal; approximate 4. Of or based on the traditional arts and sciences of a college or university curriculum Liberal sprinkling of: generous (from 2.) sprinkling (a small and scattered amount) of eg. a liberal sprinkling of pepper

Question 27

(to be) indebted to

Answer 27

To be obligated to; beholden to

Question 28

acquisition

Answer 28

(noun) 1. The act of acquiring 2. Something acquired (to) acquire: 1. To gain possession of 2. To get by one's own efforts

Question 29

(to) bombard

Answer 29

1. To attack with bombs, explosive shells, or missiles 2. To assail (attack violently) persistently, as with requests / barrage 3. To irradiate (an atom)

Question 30

crucial

Answer 30

(adjective) 1. Extremely significant or important | 2. Vital to the resolution of a crisis

Question 31

aspect

Answer 31

(noun) 1. An appearance; air 2. An element; facet 3. A position facing a given direction (do not confuse with 'expect')

Question 32

(to) analyse

Answer 32

1. To make an analysis (the separation of a whole into its parts for study) of 2. To psychoanalyse

Question 33

concrete (example)

Answer 33

Relating to an actual, specific thing or instance; particular

Question 34

adequacy

Answer 34

Noun of adequate (adj.): 1. Sufficient to satisfy a requirement / sufficient 2. Barely satisfactory

Question 35

(to go) astray

Answer 35

(adv) 1. Away from the correct direction or route / amiss | 2. into wrong or evil ways

Question 36

fallacy

Answer 36

Noun: 1. A false idea or notion | 2. In correctness of reasoning or belief

Question 37

relevance

Answer 37

Noun of relevant (adj.): having to do with the matter at hand

Question 38

vacuous

Answer 38

(adj. ): 1. Empty 2. Inane; stupid 2. Blank; vacant

Question 39

(to) feature

Answer 39

1. To publicize or make prominent 2. To include as a prominent part or characteristic 3. To draw the features of

Question 40

(to) accomplish

Answer 40

1. To succeed in doing; achieve | 2. To finish; complete

Question 41

(to) squabble

Answer 41

To engage in an argument, usually over a trivial matter; wrangle

Question 42

submission

Answer 42

Noun of submit (verb): 1. To yield or surrender (oneself) to the authority of another 2. To commit (something) to the consideration or judgment of another 3. To offer as a proposition or contention 4. To allow oneself to be subjected to something

Question 43

justly famous

Answer 43

Adv of just: 3. Properly due or merited 5. Suitable; fitting 6. Based on sound reason; well-founded

Question 44

mere

Answer 44

1. Being no more than what is specified | 2. Considered apart from anything else