Word Pairs I

Question 1

AMBIVALENT

Answer 1

having mixed or conflicting feelings about a person, thing or situation; uncertain; irresolute
-“She was ambivalent about the proposal for the shopping center because she understood the arguments both for and against its construction.”

Question 2

EPHEMERAL

Answer 2

lasting a very short time; transitory; transient
-“Numerous ephemeral ponds and pools can be found in the desert during the rainy season.”

Question 3

GARRULOUS

Answer 3

talkative, loquacious
-“Andrew had the unfortunate luck of being
seated next to a garrulous young woman for his 12-hour flight.”

Question 4

INCHOATE

Answer 4

just begun; not yet fully formed; undeveloped, incomplete; nascent
-“During the inchoate stage of fetal growth, it is difficult to distinguish between a cow, a frog, and a human; it is not until they mature that the developing embryos take on the characteristics of their own particular species.”

Question 5

IRK

Answer 5

to annoy, irritate or vex
-“Teenagers are continually irked by their parents—and vice versa.”

Question 6

IRRESOLUTE

Answer 6

feeling or showing uncertainty; hesitant, indecisive; ambivalent
-“Sandra is still irresolute, so if you talk to her, you might help her make up her mind.”

Question 7

LOQUACIOUS

Answer 7

talkative, garrulous
-“The loquacious woman sitting next to me on the six-hour flight talked the entire time.”

Question 8

MITIGATE

Answer 8

to make less intense or severe diminish; alleviate
-“The unusual extenuating circumstances mitigated her punishment.”

Question 9

NASCENT

Answer 9

coming into existence; emerging; inchoate
-“The nascent movement gathered strength quickly and soon became a nationwide call to action.”

Question 10

NOISOME

Answer 10

1. offensive, foul, especially in odor; putrid
2. harmful, noxious
   -“What a noisome odor is coming from that garbage can!”

Question 11

NOXIOUS

Answer 11

unpleasant and harmful, unwholesome; noisome
-“The noxious smell drove everyone from the room.”

Question 12

PALLIATE

Answer 12

1. to make something less intense or severe; alleviate; mitigate
2. provide relief from pain
   -“The governor tried to palliate his malfeasance, but it soon became clear that he would not be able to prevent a scandal.”

Question 13

RAPACIOUS

Answer 13

excessively greedy and grasping (especially for money); plundering, voracious
-“The rapacious general ordered his soldiers to pillage the town.”

Question 14

SORDID

Answer 14

1 dirty, wretched, squalid
2. morally degraded
-“This sordid establishment should be shut down immediately.”

Question 15

SQUALID

Answer 15

1. filthy and wretched
2. morally repulsive; sordid
   -“The housing inspectors noted such deplorable and squalid living conditions in the decrepit building on Water Street that they were forced to evacuate the tenants.”

Question 16

STOICAL

Answer 16

seemingly unaffected by pleasure or pain, indifferent, impassive; stolid
-“He remained stoical as his wife told him she was leaving.”

Question 17

STOLID

Answer 17

not feeling or showing emotion, impassive; not easily aroused or excited; stoical
-“Maxine is a very stolid person, so it is very difficult to tell how she feels.”

Question 18

TRANSIENT

Answer 18

lasting a very short time; fleeting, transitory, brief; ephemeral
-“Their relationship was transient, but profound.”

Question 19

VEX

Answer 19

1. to annoy, irritate
2. to cause worry to
   -“I was completely vexed by his puerile behavior.”

Question 20

VORACIOUS

Answer 20

excessively greedy, rapacious; having a great appetite for something, devouring greedily; rapacious
-“I have always been a voracious reader, consuming dozens of books every month.”