690

Question 1

diadem

\ˈd(ī)-ə-ˌdem\

Answer 1

D. a crown

E. Miss America’s diadem was auctioned off for charity.

Question 2

diapason

\ˌdī-ə-ˈp(ā)-zən\

Answer 2

D. the entire range of music sounds

E. the survey ultimately recorded the full diapason of seemingly possible replies regarding sexual practices

Question 3

diaphanous

\dī-ˈ(a)-fə-nəs\

Answer 3

D. transparent or translucent

E. the bride wore a diaphanous veil / had only a diaphanous hope of success

Question 4

diatribe

\ˈdī-ə-ˌtrīb\

Answer 4

D. a bitter denunciation

E. The article is a diatribe against mainstream media.

Question 5

dichotomy

\dī-ˈkä-tə-mē\

Answer 5

D. a division into two parts

E. Her essay discusses the dichotomy between good and evil in the author’s novels. / her outfit is a sartorial dichotomy: an elegant gown and ratty old tennis shoes

Question 6

dictum

\ˈdik-təm\

Answer 6

D. an authoritative stement

E. A doctor must follow the dictum of “First, do no harm.”

Question 7

didactic

Answer 7

D. instructive

E. the poet’s works became increasingly didactic after his religious conversion

Question 8

diffident

Answer 8

D. unconfident; timid

E. He was modest and diffident about his own success.

Question 9

diffusion

Answer 9

D. the act of spreading out at all direction

E. The problem is how to diffuse power without creating anarchy. / The moon was fuller than the night before, but the light was diffused by cloud.

Question 10

digress

Answer 10

D. to deviate, specially in writing and speaking

E. If I can digress for a moment, I’d like to briefly mention her earlier films.

Question 11

dilapidation

-ˌla-pə-ˈdā-shən\

Answer 11

D. a state of disrepair

E. furniture is dilapidated by use

Question 12

dilate

Answer 12

D. to expand

E. The drug causes the blood vessels to dilate. / During labor, a woman’s cervix will dilate to about 10 centimeters.

Question 13

dilatory

\ˈdi-lə-ˌtȯr-ē\

Answer 13

D. tending to delay; tardy

E. the homeowner is claiming that local firefighters were dilatory in responding to the call

Question 14

dilemma

\də-ˈle-mə also dī-\

Answer 14

D. a choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives

Question 15

dilettante

\ˈdi-lə-ˌtänt\

Answer 15

D. one who involves himself in the arts as a pastime

E. You can always tell a true expert from a dilettante.

Question 16

diligent

Answer 16

D. hard-working

Question 17

diminution

\ˌdi-mə-ˈnü-shən\

Answer 17

D. a lessening

E. a diminution of 60 percent over the course of the month

Question 18

dint

\ˈdint\

Answer 18

D. means

E. succeeded by dint of hard work

Question 19

dire

\ˈdī(-ə)r\

Answer 19

D. terrible, fatal, extreme

E. Even the smallest mistake could have dire consequences.

Question 20

dirge

\ˈdərj\

Answer 20

D. funeral music

E. bagpipes played a haunting dirge at the funeral for the fallen leader

Question 21

disavowal

Answer 21

D. a denial

Question 22

discernible

Answer 22

D. able to be seen or distinguish

Question 23

discerning

Answer 23

D. having good judgement, astute

Question 24

disclaim

Answer 24

D. to disown

E. disclaimed any knowledge of the contents of the letter

Question 25

discomfit \dis-ˈkəm-fət\

Answer 25

D. frustrate; thwarte; disconcert E. to be discomfited by a question. / The army was discomfited in every battle.

Question 26

disconcert \ˌdis-kən-ˈsərt\

Answer 26

D. to upset or confuse E. we were disconcerted by the unexpected changes to the program

Question 27

disconsolate \dis-ˈkän-sə-lət\

Answer 27

D. sad, dejected E. the team returned disconsolate from three losses

Question 28

discordant

Answer 28

D. not harmonious

Question 29

discountenance

Answer 29

D. to make ashamed, to discourage E. discountenanced all bellicose statements

Question 30

discreet

Answer 30

D. showing good judgement in conduct, prudent E. he was very discreet, only saying what was necessary

Question 31

secrete \si-ˈkrēt\

Answer 31

D. separate; not connected E. The drugs were secreted in the lining of his case.

Question 32

discretion

Answer 32

D. individual judgement; quality of being discreet E. She handled the awkward situation with great discretion. / The coach used his own discretion to let the injured quarterback play. / Each artist in the gallery has discretion over the price that will be charged for his or her work.

Question 33

discursive

Answer 33

D. passing from one subject to another E. the speaker's discursive style made it difficult to understand his point

Question 34

disdain

Answer 34

D. to think (sth or sb) unworthy E. He regarded their proposal with disdain. / I have a healthy disdain for companies that mistreat their workers.

Question 35

disheveled \di-ˈshev-əl-d\

Answer 35

D. messy E. His wrinkled suit gave him a disheveled appearance.

Question 36

disingenuous \ˌdis-in-ˈjen-yə-wəs\

Answer 36

D. insincere E. Her recent expressions of concern are self-serving and disingenuous.

Question 37

disinterested

Answer 37

D. not influenced by personal advantage E. the disinterested pursuit of truth

Question 38

disjointed

Answer 38

D. disconnected

Question 39

disparage

Answer 39

D. to belittle E. Voters don't like political advertisements in which opponents disparage one another.

Question 40

disperse

Answer 40

D. to scatter or distribute E. the fog dispersed toward morning / The seeds are dispersed by the wind.

Question 41

disport

Answer 41

D. to amuse or divert E. a full-service resort where vacationers may disport at a variety of indoor and outdoor activities / disported themselves with silly games while they waited in the airport

Question 42

disputatious

Answer 42

D. inclined to dispute

Question 43

disquisition \ˌdis-kwə-ˈzi-shən\

Answer 43

D. a formal inquiry; an elaborate essay E. Adam Smith's celebrated disquisition on the factors contributing to the wealth of nations.

Question 44

dissemble

Answer 44

D. to disguise or pretend E. he dissembled happiness at the news that his old girlfriend was getting married—to someone else

Question 45

disseminate

Answer 45

D. to scatter

Question 46

dissident

Answer 46

D. not agreeing E. dissident elements within the Catholic Church