Chapter 1

Question 1

Ambivalent

Answer 1

Having mixed or opposing feelings at the same time

Question 2

Anomaly

Answer 2

Deviation from the norm or what is expected; atypical

Question 3

Sarcastic, Sardonic, Snide

Answer 3

Mocking; derisive; taunting; stinging

Question 4

Dearth, Paucity

Answer 4

A scarcity or shortage of something

Question 5

Prattle

Answer 5

To speak in a foolish manner; to babble incessantly

Question 6

Wry, Droll

Answer 6

Dry; humorous with a clever twist and a touch of irony

Question 7

Unconventional, Unorthodox

Answer 7

Not ordinary or typical; characterized by avoiding customary conventions and behaviors

Question 8

Meticulous, Painstaking, Fastidious

Answer 8

Extremely careful; exacting

Question 9

Audacious

Answer 9

Fearlessly, often recklessly daring; very bold

Question 10

Indifferent, Apathetic

Answer 10

Marked by a lack of interest or concern; nonchalant

Question 11

Diffident, Self-Effacing

Answer 11

Hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence; unassertive; shy; retiring

Question 12

Pragmatic

Answer 12

Practical; sensible; NOT idealistic or romantic

Question 13

Evocation

Answer 13

An imaginative re-creation of something; a calling forth

Question 14

Presumptuous

Answer 14

Taking liberties; brashly overstepping one’s place; impertinently bold; effrontery

Question 15

Recalcitrant

Answer 15

Stubbornly resistant and defiant, bstinate, obdurate, refractory, disobedient

Question 16

Boon/Bane

Answer 16

A timely benefit; blessing/ A source of harm and ruin

Question 17

Clandestine, Surreptitious

Answer 17

Secret; covert; not open; not aboveboard

Question 18

Affable, Amiable, Genial, Gregarious

Answer 18

Agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly

Question 19

Austere, Austerity

Answer 19

Having no adornment or ornamentation; bare; not ornate

Great self-denial, economy, discipline; lack of adornment

Question 20

Altruism

Answer 20

Unselfish concern for the welfare of others

Question 21

Ambiguity, Ambiguous

Answer 21

The quality of state of having more than one possible meaning; doubtful; equivocal.
Unclear; uncertain; open to more than one interpretation; not definitive; dubious

Question 22

Upbraid, Reproach, Castigate

Answer 22

To express disapproval; to scold; to rebuke; to censure

Question 23

Nostalgia

Answer 23

A wistful, sentimental longing for a place or time in the past

Question 24

Conjecture

Answer 24

An inference based upon guesswork; a supposition

Question 25

Obsolete, Archaic, Antiquated

Answer 25

No longer in use; outmoded in design or style

Question 26

Auspicious, Propitious

Answer 26

Very favorable

Question 27

Gaffe

Answer 27

A blunder; a faux pas; a clumsy social or diplomatic error

Question 28

Impasse

Answer 28

A deadlock; stalemate; failure to reach an agreement

Question 29

Anachronism

Answer 29

The false assignment of an event, person, scene, or language to a time when the event, person, scene, or word did not exist

Question 30

Belie

Answer 30

To contradict; to prove false; used of appearances that are misrepresentative

Question 31

Mitigate, Mollify, Assuage, Alleviate

Answer 31

To relieve; to lessen; to ease

Question 32

Covet, Covetous

Answer 32

To strongly desire; to crave. | Grasping, greedy, eager to obtain something; avaricious

Question 33

Antithesis, Antithetical

Answer 33

The direct or exact opposite; extreme contrast; antipode. | Exactly opposite; antipodal

Question 34

Prototype

Answer 34

An original model; an initial design

Question 35

Aloof

Answer 35

Detached; distant physically or emotionally; reserved; standing near but apart

Question 36

Trite, Hackneyed, Banal, Platitudinous, Insipid

Answer 36

Unoriginal; commonplace; overused; cliched

Question 37

Antecedent

Answer 37

A preceding event; a forerunner; a precursor

Question 38

Plausible/Implausible

Answer 38

Believable; credible/Unbelievable incredible

Question 39

Prudent

Answer 39

Careful; cautious; sensible

Question 40

Aesthetic

Answer 40

Relating to the nature of beauty, art, and taste; having a sense of what is beautiful, attractive, or pleasing

Question 41

Paradox

Answer 41

A seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless expresses a truth

Question 42

Enigmatic, Inscrutable

Answer 42

Mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling

Question 43

Acquiesce

Answer 43

To comply; to agree; to give in

Question 44

Naive, Gullible

Answer 44

Unaffectedly simple; lacking worldly expertise; overly credulous; unsophisticated; immature; inexperienced; ingenuous

Question 45

Autonomy, Autonomous

Answer 45

Independence; self-governance. | Acting independently, or having the freedom to do so; not controlled by others; self-governing

Question 46

Futile

Answer 46

Completely useless; doomed to failure; in vain

Question 47

Indigenous, Endemic

Answer 47

Native to an area

Question 48

Ubiquitous, Prevalent

Answer 48

Characterized by being everywhere; omnipresent; widespread; pervasive

Question 49

Pandemic

Answer 49

An epidemic that is geographically widespread and affects a large proportion of the population

Question 50

Fortitude

Answer 50

Strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage