281-320

Question 1

induce

Answer 1

v. persuade; bring about
n. inducement
After the quarrel, Tina said nothing could induce her to talk to Tony again.

Question 2

ineffable

Answer 2

adj, unutterable; cannot be expressed in speech.
Looking down at her newborn daughter, Ruth felt such ineffable joy that, for the first time in her adult life, she had no words to convey what was in her heart.

Question 3

inert

Answer 3

adj. inactive; lacking power to move.
n. inertia
I lay in my bed inert.

Question 4

inexorable

Answer 4

adj. relentless; unyielding.
After listening to the pleas for clemency, the judge was inexorable and gave the convicted man the maximum punishment allowed by law.

Question 5

ingenious

Answer 5

adj. clever; resourceful
n. ingenuity
Kit admired the ingenious way that her computer keyboard opened up to reveal the built-in CD-ROM below.

Question 6

inherent

Answer 6

adj. firmly established by nature or habit.

Katya’s inherent love of justice caused her to champion anyone she considered treated unfairly by society.

Question 7

innate

Answer 7

adj. inborn; natural

Mozart’s parents soon recognized young Wolfgang’s innate talent for music.

Question 8

innocuous

Answer 8

adj. harmless.

An occasional glass of wine with dinner is relatively innocuous and should have no ill effect on you.

Question 9

innovation

Answer 9

n. change; introduction of something new.
v. innovate
Although Richard liked to keep up with all the latest technological innovations, he didn’t always abandon tried and true techniques in favor of something new.

Question 10

insipid

Answer 10

adj. lacking in flavor; dull.

Flat prose and flat ginger ale are equally insipid.

Question 11

insolvent

Answer 11

adj. bankrupt; unable to repay one’s debts.
n. insolvency
Although Will was insolvent, he had no fear of being thrown into debtor’s prison.

Question 12

instigate

Answer 12

v. urge; provoke

Rumors of police corruption led the mayor to instigate an investigation into the department’s activities.

Question 13

insularity

Answer 13

n. narrow-mindedness; isolation.
adj. insular
The insularity of the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of anything foreign.

Question 14

insuperable

Answer 14

adj. unbeatable

Though the odds against their survival seemed insuperable, the Apollo 13 astronauts reached earth safely.

Question 15

integrity

Answer 15

n. uprightness; wholeness.

Lincoln fought a civil war to maintain the integrity of the Republic.

Question 16

intervene

Answer 16

v. come between

When two close friends get into a fight, be careful if you try to intervene.

Question 17

intimidate

Answer 17

v. frighten.

I’ll learn karate and then those big bullies won’t be able to intimidate me any more.

Question 18

intractable

Answer 18

adj. unruly; stubborn.

Charlie was intractable: he absolutely refused to take a bath.

Question 19

intrepid

Answer 19

adj. fearless.

For her intrepid conduct, Flo was honored by the Queen.

Question 20

inundate

Answer 20

v. overwhelm; flood; submerge.

This summer I am inundated with work.

Question 21

invert

Answer 21

v. turn upside down or inside out.

When he inverted his body in a handstand, he felt the blood rush to his head.

Question 22

ironic

Answer 22

adj. resulting in an unexpected and contrary outcome.

It is ironic that his success came when he least wanted it.

Question 23

irreproachable

Answer 23

adj. blameless; impeccable

Homer’s conduct at the office party was irreproachable: even Marge didn’t have anything bad to say about how he behaved.

Question 24

jocular

Answer 24

adj. said or done in jest.

Although Bill knew the boss hated jokes, he couldn’t resist making one jocular remark.

Question 25

laconic

Answer 25

adj. brief and to the point.

Many of the characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types: strong men of few words

Question 26

laggard

Answer 26

adj. slow; sluggish
n. lag
The sailor had been taught not to be laggard in carrying out orders.

Question 27

lament

Answer 27

v. grieve; express sorrow.
n. lamentation
Even advocates of the war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat.

Question 28

lampoon

Answer 28

v. ridicule.

This article lampoons the pretensions of some movie moguls.

Question 29

lassitude

Answer 29

n.languor; weariness.

After a massage and a long soak in the hot tub, I gave in to my growing lassitude and lay down for a nap.

Question 30

laud

Answer 30

v. praise

I lauded Bill’s efforts to raise money.

Question 31

lavish

Answer 31

adj. generous;extravagant
v.
Her wealthy suitors wooed her with lavish gifts.

Question 32

lethargic

Answer 32

adj. drowsy; dull.

The stuffy room made her lethargic: she felt as if she was about to nod off.

Question 33

levity

Answer 33

n. lack of seriousness.

Stop giggling and wriggling around in the pew: such levity is improper in church.

Question 34

linger

Answer 34

v. loiter; continue or persist.

Romeo lingered outside the Capulet house for hours.

Question 35

listless

Answer 35

adj. lacking in spirit or energy.

We had expected him to be full of enthusiasm and were surprised by his listless attitude.

Question 36

lithe

Answer 36

adj. flexible; supple.

Her figure was lithe and willowy.

Question 37

lofty

Answer 37

adj. bery high.
Though Jonas’ fellow students used to tease him about his lofty ambitions, he rose to hold one of the highest positions in the land.

Question 38

lurid

Answer 38

adj. wild; sensational

Do the lurid cover stories actually attract people to buy that trashy tabloid?

Question 39

luxuriant

Answer 39

adj. abundant; rich and splendid.

Lady was completely covered by her luxuriant hair.