Practice Test 1

Question 1

idiosyncrasy

Answer 1

noun, plural id·i·o·syn·cra·sies.

a characteristic, habit, mannerism, or the like, that is peculiar to an individual.

Question 2

apostle

[ uh-pos-uhl ]

Answer 2

a pioneer of any new system or cause, especially an early leader in a reform movement:
He has emerged as an apostle of a new era of peace and national unity.

Question 3

anachronism

[ uh-nak-ruh-niz-uhm ]

Answer 3

something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, especially a thing or person that belongs to an earlier time:

Question 4

emulate

Answer 4

to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass:
to emulate one’s father as a concert violinist.

Question 5

dog·ma

/ˈdôɡmə/

Answer 5

noun
a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.
“the rejection of political dogma”

Question 6

stigmatize

[ stig-muh-tahyz ]

Answer 6

to set some mark of disgrace or infamy upon:

Question 7

lionize

[ lahy-uh-nahyz ]

Answer 7

to treat (a person) as a celebrity:
to lionize the visiting poet.

Question 8

marginalize

[ mahr-juh-nl-ahyz ]

Answer 8

process of relegating or confining to a lower or outer limit or edge, as of social standing

Question 9

foreground

[ fawr-ground, fohr- ]

Answer 9

a prominent or important position; forefront.

Question 10

transcend

[ tran-send ]

Answer 10

to rise above or go beyond; overpass; exceed:

Question 11

obscure

[ uhb-skyoor ]

Answer 11

(of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain:

Question 12

caprice

[ kuh-prees ]

Answer 12

a sudden, unpredictable change, as of one’s mind or the weather.

Question 13

modicum

[ mod-i-kuhm, moh-di- ]

Answer 13

noun
a moderate or small amount:
He hasn’t even a modicum of common sense.

Question 14

scruple

[ skroo-puhl ]

Answer 14

a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.

Question 15

demur

[ dih-mur ]

Answer 15

to make objection, especially on the grounds of scruples; take exception; object:

Question 16

schism

[ siz-uhm, skiz- ]

Answer 16

noun
division or disunion, especially into mutually opposed parties.
the parties so formed.

Question 17

acquiesce

[ ak-wee-es ]

Answer 17

to assent tacitly; submit or comply silently or without protest; agree; consent:

Question 18

compliance

[ kuhm-plahy-uhns ]

Answer 18

noun

the act of conforming, acquiescing, or yielding.

Question 19

dissent

[ dih-sent ]

Answer 19

to disagree with the methods, goals, etc., of a political party or government; take an opposing view.

Question 20

sar·to·ri·al

/särˈtôrēəl/

Answer 20

relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress.

Question 21

panache

[ puh-nash, -nahsh ]

Answer 21

noun
a grand or flamboyant manner; verve; style; flair:
The actor who would play Cyrano must have panache.

Question 22

gawky

[ gaw-kee ]

Answer 22

awkward; ungainly; clumsy.

Question 23

confound

[ kon-found,

Answer 23

verb (used with object)
to perplex or amaze, especially by a sudden disturbance or surprise; bewilder; confuse:
The complicated directions confounded him

Question 24

scant

[ skant ]

Answer 24

barely sufficient in amount or quantity; not abundant; almost inadequate:

Question 25

terse | [ turs ]

Answer 25

sparing in the use of words; abrupt.

Question 26

innocuous | [ ih-nok-yoo-uhs

Answer 26

adjective not harmful or injurious; harmless: an innocuous home remedy.

Question 27

benign | [ bih-nahyn ]

Answer 27

having a kindly disposition; gracious: a benign king. not harmful

Question 28

remedial | [ ri-mee-dee-uhl ]

Answer 28

intended to correct or improve one's skill in a specified field: remedial math.

Question 29

antedate | [ verb an-ti-deyt

Answer 29

to be of older date than; precede in time: | The Peruvian empire antedates the Mexican empire.

Question 30

enigmatic | [ en-ig-mat-ik, ee-nig- ]

Answer 30

adjective difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious. "he took the money with an enigmatic smile"

Question 31

pellucid | [ puh-loo-sid ]

Answer 31

``` adjective allowing the maximum passage of light, as glass; translucent clear; limpid: pellucid waters. clear in meaning, expression, or style: ```

Question 32

profundity | [ pruh-fuhn-di-tee ]

Answer 32

penetrating or entering deeply into subjects of thought or knowledge; having deep insight or understanding: a profound thinker.

Question 33

mis·no·mer | /misˈnōmər/

Answer 33

noun | a wrong or inaccurate name or designation.

Question 34

paradigm | [ par-uh-dahym, -dim ]

Answer 34

an example serving as a model; pattern. a framework containing the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methodology that are commonly accepted by members of a scientific community.

Question 35

evade | [ ih-veyd ]

Answer 35

to escape from by trickery or cleverness: | to evade one's pursuers.

Question 36

reconcile | [ rek-uhn-sahyl ]

Answer 36

restore friendly relations between.

Question 37

mutable | [ myoo-tuh-buhl ]

Answer 37

adjective | liable or subject to change or alteration.

Question 38

antithetical | [ an-tuh-thet-i-kuhl ]

Answer 38

directly opposed or contrasted; opposite.

Question 39

er·ro·ne·ous | /əˈrōnēəs/

Answer 39

adjective | wrong; incorrect.

Question 40

fractious | [ frak-shuhs ]

Answer 40

adjective (typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome. "they fight and squabble like fractious children"

Question 41

ten·den·tious | /tenˈdenSHəs/

Answer 41

having or showing a definite tendency, bias, or purpose:

Question 42

disapprobation | [ dis-ap-ruh-bey-shuhn ]

Answer 42

strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds.

Question 43

profligate | [ prof-li-git, -geyt ]

Answer 43

adjective recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources. "profligate consumers of energy"

Question 44

il·lib·er·al | /i(l)ˈlib(ə)rəl/

Answer 44

opposed to liberal principles; restricting freedom of thought or behavior.

Question 45

ac·quis·i·tive | /əˈkwizədiv/

Answer 45

adjective | excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.

Question 46

al·le·go·ry | /ˈaləˌɡôrē/

Answer 46

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Question 47

res·o·lute | /ˈrezəˌl(y)o͞ot/

Answer 47

admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering. | "she was resolute and unswerving"

Question 48

ob·se·qui·ous | /əbˈsēkwēəs/

Answer 48

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree. | "they were served by obsequious waiters"

Question 49

lax | /laks/

Answer 49

not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful. | "lax security arrangements at the airport"

Question 50

in·tran·si·gent | /inˈtransəjənt,inˈtranzəjənt/

Answer 50

adjective unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something. "her father had tried persuasion, but she was intransigent"

Question 51

def·er·en·tial | /ˌdefəˈren(t)SH(ə)l/

Answer 51

showing deference; respectful. | "people were always deferential to him"

Question 52

lu·rid | /ˈlo͝orəd/

Answer 52

very vivid in color, especially so as to create an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect. "lurid food colorings"

Question 53

in·vig·or·at·ing | /inˈviɡəˌrādiNG/

Answer 53

adjective: invigorating making one feel strong, healthy, and full of energy. "a brisk, invigorating walk"

Question 54

fleet·ing | /ˈflēdiNG/

Answer 54

lasting for a very short time. | "hoping to get a fleeting glimpse of a whale underwater"

Question 55

elated | /ēˈlādəd/

Answer 55

ecstatically happy. | "after the concert, I felt elated"

Question 56

ex·act·ing | /iɡˈzaktiNG/

Answer 56

making great demands on one's skill, attention, or other resources. "living up to such exacting standards"

Question 57

dis·pa·rate | /ˈdispərət,dəˈsperət/

Answer 57

essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison. | "they inhabit disparate worlds of thought"

Question 58

trite | /trīt/

Answer 58

overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness. "this point may now seem obvious and trite"

Question 59

vir·u·lence | /ˈvir(y)ələns/

Answer 59

the severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison. | "the proportion of birds which die depends on the virulence of the virus"

Question 60

dis·si·pat·ed | /ˈdisəˌpādəd/

Answer 60

adjective (of a person or way of life) overindulging in sensual pleasures. "dissipated behavior"

Question 61

par·ti·san | /ˈpärdəzən/

Answer 61

a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person. | "partisans of the exiled Stuarts"

Question 62

er·u·dite | /ˈer(y)əˌdīt/

Answer 62

having or showing great knowledge or learning. | "Ken could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion"

Question 63

in·su·lar | /ˈins(y)ələr/

Answer 63

ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience. "a stubbornly insular farming people"

Question 64

im·per·turb·a·ble | /ˌimpərˈtərbəb(ə)l/

Answer 64

unable to be upset or excited; calm. | "an imperturbable tranquility"