Basic V

Question 1

pastoral

Answer 1

pastoral
adjective: relating to the countryside in a pleasant sense

Those who imagine America’s countryside as a pastoral region are often disappointed to learn that much of rural U.S. is filled with cornfields extending as far as the eye can see.

Question 2

taxing

Answer 2

taxing
adjective: use to the limit; exhaust

The hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was so taxing that I could barely speak or stand up.

This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Question 3

steadfast

Answer 3

steadfast
adjective: marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

A good captain needs to be steadfast, continuing to hold the wheel and stay the course even during the most violent storm.

Question 4

tout

Answer 4

tout
verb: advertize in strongly positive terms; show off

At the conference, the CEO touted the extraordinary success of his company’s Research & Development division.

Question 5

squander

Answer 5

squander
verb: spend thoughtlessly; waste time, money, or an opportunity

Fearing his money would be squandered by his family, he gave all of it to charity when he died.

Question 6

embellish

Answer 6

embellish
verb: make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.; make more beautiful

McCartney would write relatively straightforward lyrics, and Lennon would embellish them with puns and poetic images.

Question 7

aphoristic

Answer 7

aphoristic
adjective: something that is concise and instructive of a general truth or principle

a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”.a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”.

Sometimes I can’t stand Nathan because he tries to impress everyone by being aphoristic, but he just states the obvious.

Question 8

peevish

Answer 8

peevish
adjective: easily irritated or annoyed

Our office manager is peevish, so the rest of us tip-toe around him, hoping not to set off another one of his fits.

Question 9

maxim

Answer 9

maxim
noun: a short saying expressing a general truth

Johnson initially suggests that the secret to business can be summarized in a single maxim but then requires a 300-page book to explain exactly what he means.

Question 10

exasperate

Answer 10

exasperate
verb: to irritate intensely

As a child, I exasperated my mother with strings of never-ending questions.

Question 11

obstinate

Answer 11

obstinate
adjective: resistant to guidance or discipline; stubbornly persistent

The coach suggested improvements Sarah might make on the balance beam, but she remained obstinate, unwilling to modify any of the habits that made her successful in the past.

Question 12

quip

Answer 12

quip
noun: a witty saying or remark

In one of the most famous quips about classical music, Mark Twain said: “Wagner’s music is better than it sounds.”

verb: to make a witty remark, to say in jest

When an old English teacher criticized Churchill for ending a sentence with a preposition, he quipped, “This is the kind of criticism up with which we will not put!”

Question 13

rash

Answer 13

rash
adjective: marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences; imprudently incurring risk

Although Bruce was able to make the delivery in time with a nighttime motorcycle ride in the rain, Susan criticized his actions as rash.

Question 14

convoluted

Answer 14

convoluted
adjective: highly complex or intricate

Instead of solving the math problem in three simple steps, Kumar used a convoluted solution requiring fifteen steps.

Question 15

devolve

Answer 15

devolve
verb: pass on or delegate to another

The company was full of managers known for devolving tasks to lower management, but never doing much work themselves.

verb: grow worse (usually “devolve into”)

The dialogue between the two academics devolved into a downright bitter argument.

Question 16

connive

Answer 16

connive
verb: taking part in immoral and unethical plots

With the help of the prince, the queen connived to overthrow the king.

Question 17

elude

Answer 17

elude
verb: escape understanding

While some physics concepts might elude newbies, with a little grit and a good teacher, almost anyone can develop a deep understanding of the subject.

Question 18

ploy

Answer 18

ploy
noun: a clever plan to turn a situation to one’s advantage

Dennis arranged an elaborate ploy, involving 14 different people lying for him in different situations, so that it could appear that he was meeting Mary completely by chance at the wedding reception.

Question 19

destitute

Answer 19

destitute
adjective: poor enough to need help from others

Jean Valjean, is at first destitute, but through the grace of a priest, he makes something of his life.

adjective: completely wanting or lacking (usually “destitute of”)

Now that the mine is closed, the town is destitute of any economic activity.

Question 20

placid

Answer 20

placid
adjective: not easily irritated

Doug is normally placid, so we were all shocked to see him yelling at the television when the Mets lost the game.

Question 21

brusquely

Answer 21

brusquely
adverb: in a blunt, direct manner

Not one for social pleasantries, the Chief of Staff would brusquely ask his subordinates for anything he wanted, even coffee.

Question 22

unprecedented

Answer 22

unprecedented
adjective: having never been done or known before; novel

When America first created its national parks, the idea of setting aside the most beautiful land in a country was unprecedented in the history of mankind.

Question 23

credulity

Answer 23

credulity
noun: tendency to believe readily

Virginia’s wide-eyed credulity as a five-year old was replaced by suspicion after she learned that Santa Claus didn’t really exist.

Question 24

presumption

Answer 24

presumption
noun: an assumption that is taken for granted

When Mr. Baker found out the family car was gone, he acted under the presumption that his rebellious son had taken the car, calling his son’s phone and yelling at him; only later did Mr. Baker realize that Mrs. Baker had simply gone out to get her nails done.

noun: audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to

The new neighbor quickly gained a reputation for her presumption; she had invited herself to several neighbors’ homes, often stopping over at inopportune times and asking for a drink.

Question 25

eke

Answer 25

eke
verb: To live off meager resources, to scrape by

Stranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry was able to eke out an existence on canned food.

Question 26

irk

Answer 26

irk
verb: irritate or vex

My little sister has a way of irking and annoying me like no other person.

Question 27

enmity

Answer 27

enmity
noun: a state of deep-seated ill-will

The rude remark Charles made toward Sarah yesterday was due to his illness, not due to any real enmity toward Sarah.

Question 28

perturb

Answer 28

perturb
verb: disturb in mind or cause to be worried or alarmed

Now that Henry is recovering from a major illness, he no longer lets the little trivialities, such as late mail, perturb him.

Question 29

tarnish

Answer 29

tarnish
verb: make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically

Pete Rose was one of the best baseball players of his generation, but his involvement with gambling on baseball games has tarnished his image in the eyes of many.

Question 30

unseemly

Answer 30

unseemly
adjective: not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society

He acted in an unseemly manner, insulting the hostess and then speaking ill of her deceased husband.

Question 31

derogative

Answer 31

derogative
adjective: expressed as worthless or in negative terms

Never before have we seen a debate between two political candidates that was so derogative and filthy.

Question 32

foible

Answer 32

foible
noun: a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual

When their new roommate sat staring at an oak tree for an hour, Marcia thought it indicated a mental problem, but Jeff assured her it was a harmless foible.

Question 33

retract

Answer 33

retract
verb: pull inward or towards a center; formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure

Email is wonderfully efficient, but once something awkward or damaging has been sent, there is no way to retract it.

Question 34

smug

Answer 34

smug
adjective: marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction

When Phil was dating the model, he had a smug attitude that annoyed his buddies.

Question 35

deligent

Answer 35

diligent
adjective: characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks

Michael was a diligent gardener, never leaving a leaf on the ground and regularly watering each plant.

Question 36

impregnable

Answer 36

impregnable
adjective: immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with

As a child, Amy would build pillow castles and pretend they were impregnable fortresses.

Question 37

collusion

Answer 37

collusion
noun: agreement on a secret plot

Many have argued that Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK’s assassin, was in collusion with other criminals; others maintain that Oswald was a lone gunman.

Question 38

travail

Answer 38

travail
noun: use of physical or mental energy; hard work; agony or anguish

While they experienced nothing but travails in refinishing the kitchen, they completed the master bedroom in less than a weekend.

Question 39

savvy

Answer 39

savvy
noun: a perceptive understanding

Although a great CEO, he did not have the political savvy to win the election.

verb: get the meaning of something

The student savvies the meaning of astrophysics with little effort.

adjective: well-informed or perceptive

With his savvy business partner, the company was able to turn a profit within a year.

Question 40

impending

Answer 40

impending
adjective: close in time; about to occur

The impending doom of our world has been discussed and debated for 2000 years—maybe even longer.

Question 41

discord

Answer 41

discord
noun: lack of agreement or harmony

Despite all their talented players, the team was filled with discord–some players refused to talk to others–and lost most of their games.

Question 42

tact

Answer 42

tact
noun: consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense

In a tremendous display of tact, Shelly was able to maintain a strong friendship with Marcia, even though Marcia’s husband, Frank, confessed to finding Shelley more attractive than Marcia.

Question 43

goad

Answer 43

goad
verb: urge on with unpleasant comments

Doug did not want to enter the race, but Jim, through a steady stream of taunts, goaded him into signing up for it.

Question 44

serene

Answer 44

serene
adjective: calm and peaceful

I’d never seen him so serene; usually, he was a knot of stress and anxiety from hours of trading on the stock exchange.

Question 45

candidness

Answer 45

candidness
noun: the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech

Although I was unhappy that the relationship ended, I appreciated her candidness about why she was ready to move on from the relationship.

Question 46

reservation

Answer 46

reservation
noun: an unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly

I was initially excited by the idea of a trip to Washington, D.C. but now that I have read about the high crime statistics there, I have some reservations.

This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Question 47

complacent

Answer 47

complacent
adjective: contented to a fault with oneself or one’s actions

After the water polo team won their sixth championship, they became complacent and didn’t even make it to the playoffs the next year.

Question 48

leery

Answer 48

leery
adjective: openly distrustful and unwilling to confide

Without checking his references and talking to previous employers, I am leery of hiring the candidate.

Question 49

exemplify

Answer 49

exemplify
verb: be characteristic of

Lincoln exemplified the best of not only America, but also the potential greatness that exists within each person.

verb: clarify by giving an example of

Please present some case studies that exemplify the results that you claim in your paper.

Question 50

malevolent

Answer 50

malevolent
adjective: wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred

Villains are known for their malevolent nature, oftentimes inflicting cruelty on others just for enjoyment.