2 The Language of Argument, Reasoning and Persuasion

Question 1

advocate

Answer 1

to provide public support for a person, cause or policy

Question 2

apologist

Answer 2

one who argues for a particular, often controversial, position

Question 3

appease

Answer 3

to yield to demands in order to conciliate

Question 4

bolster

Answer 4

to strengthen or support

Question 5

buttress

Answer 5

[1] any strong support

[2] to provide w support or justification

Question 6

cajole

Answer 6

to persuade through flattery or coaxing

Question 7

circumlocutory

Answer 7

inclined to speak evasively; speaking as if to avoid the subject

Question 8

circumscribe

Answer 8

to define the limits of something

Question 9

cohesive

Answer 9

forming a united whole

Question 10

conjecture

Answer 10

a guess based on incomplete information

Question 11

consensus

Answer 11

[1] general agreement

[2] the generally held opinion on a matter

Question 12

contentious

Answer 12

causing or likely to provoke an argument

Question 13

credulous

Answer 13

willing to believe

Question 14

criteria

Answer 14

principles or standards by which something is judged or decided

Question 15

cursory

Answer 15

hasty and superficial

Question 15

debunk

Answer 15

to expose the falseness of a belief

Question 16

delineate

Answer 16

to describe or portray precisely

Question 17

dispel

Answer 17

to drive away; to eliminate a rumor, misconception or bad feeling

Question 18

disputatious

Answer 18

[1] fond of having heated arguments

[2] likey to cause an argument

Question 19

elucidate

Answer 19

to make clear; to shed light on

Question 20

enticement

Answer 20

smt that attracts or tempts, particularly cus it offers pleasure or advantage

Question 21

enumerate

Answer 21

to list one by one

Question 22

equivocate

Answer 22

to speak ambiguously so as to avoid commitment

Question 23

exhortation

Answer 23

a strong plea, usually through an urgent speech

Question 24

exonerate

Answer 24

to absolve someone of blame or fault

Question 25

fallacious

Answer 25

based on a mistaken belief or unsound reasoning

Question 26

harangue

Answer 26

a lengthy and bombastic speech

Question 27

incongruous

Answer 27

not consistent w expectations or surroundings

Question 28

induce

Answer 28

[1] to bring about
[2] to persuade to do smt
[3] to derive by inductive reasoning

Question 29

inexorable

Answer 29

[1] unpreventable

[2] impossible to persuade

Question 30

infer

Answer 30

to conclude from evidence

Question 31

insinuate

Answer 31

to suggest or hint at smt, usually smt morally dubious

Question 32

intransigent

Answer 32

stubbornly unwilling to compromise or agree w someone

Question 33

irresolute

Answer 33

hesistant; lack of certainty or determination

Question 34

litigious

Answer 34

unreasonably prone to suing as a means of settling disputes

Question 35

obstinate

Answer 35

stubbornly refusing to change one’s position

Question 36

partisan

Answer 36

prejudiced in favor or a particular party, esp a political one

Question 37

placate

Answer 37

to pacify w conciliatory gestures

Question 38

precedent

Answer 38

a previous occurrence that is used as an example, particularly in a legal context

Question 39

prevalent

Answer 39

abundant and widespread in a particular area

Question 40

propensity

Answer 40

a natural inclination to behave a certain way

Question 41

provocative

Answer 41

[1] intended to cause a strong negative emotional response

[2] intended to arouse sexual desire

Question 42

pugnacious

Answer 42

quarrelsome; prone to fighting

Question 43

qualify

Answer 43

[1] to moderate a statement to make it less extreme

[2] to meet a necessary condition

Question 44

rebut

Answer 44

to respond to an accusation by asserting or proving it false; refute

Question 45

recalcitrant

Answer 45

stubbornly uncooperative

Question 46

refute

Answer 46

to prove smt false

Question 47

resolute

Answer 47

unwaveringly purposeful and dutifiul

Question 48

rhetoric

Answer 48

[1] the art of persuasion through language

[2] language that is persuadive but insincere or meaningless

Question 49

specious

Answer 49

seemingly plausible, but actually incorrect

Question 50

speculation

Answer 50

a guess based on meager evidence

Question 51

steadfast

Answer 51

dutifully firm and unwavering

Question 52

strident

Answer 52

annoyingly loud and harsh, particularly when presenting a point of view

Question 53

subjective

Answer 53

based on personal feelings or opinions

Question 54

substantiate

Answer 54

provide evidence for

Question 55

tenuous

Answer 55

flimsy; very weak or slight

Question 56

tirade

Answer 56

a long, angry, and critical speech

Question 57

viable

Answer 57

capable of working successfully

Question 58

vindicate

Answer 58

to clear of blame or suspicion

Question 59

zealot

Answer 59

a fanatic; one who is completely compromising and vehement in pursuing ideals