Chapter 1: The Core Vocabulary (1-50)

Question 1

ambivalent

Answer 1

having mixed or opposing feelings at the same time

Question 2

anomaly

Answer 2

deviation from normal or what is expected

Question 3

anomalous

Answer 3

unusual, not typical

Question 4

mocking

Answer 4

making fun of someone in a cruel way

Question 5

snide

Answer 5

taunting, mocking

Question 6

sardonic

Answer 6

sarcastic, taunting

Question 7

dearth

Answer 7

a scarcity or shortage of something

Question 8

paucity

Answer 8

scarcity

Question 9

prattle

Answer 9

to speak in a foolish manner; to babble constantly

Question 10

wry

Answer 10

using dry, mocking humor

Question 11

droll

Answer 11

curious in a way that provokes amusement

Question 12

unconventional, unorthodox

Answer 12

unordinary or not typical, avoiding customs

Question 13

meticulous

Answer 13

showing great attention to detail, very careful and precise

Question 14

painstaking

Answer 14

done with great care and throughness

Question 15

fastidious

Answer 15

very concerned with detail

Question 16

audacious

Answer 16

fearlessly bold

Question 17

indifferent

Answer 17

having no interest, unconcerned

Question 18

apathetic

Answer 18

showing no interest, feeling, or concern

Question 19

diffident

Answer 19

shy because of a lack of self confidence

Question 20

self-effacing

Answer 20

shy and modest in ability

Question 21

pragmatic

Answer 21

practical, unidealistic

Question 22

evocation

Answer 22

an imaginative recreation of something, a calling forth

Question 23

presumptuous

Answer 23

taking liberties, displaying arrogance

Question 24

recalcitrant

Answer 24

stubbornly resistant and defiant

Question 25

boon

Answer 25

a timely benefit, a blessing

Question 26

bane

Answer 26

a source of harm or ruin

Question 27

clandestine

Answer 27

secret, undercover

Question 28

surreptitious

Answer 28

secret

Question 29

affable

Answer 29

friendly

Question 30

amiable

Answer 30

friendly, pleasant

Question 31

gregarious

Answer 31

friendly, sociable

Question 32

austere

Answer 32

bare, no ornate

Question 33

austerity

Answer 33

great self denial and discipline

Question 34

altruism

Answer 34

concern for the welfare of others

Question 35

ambiguity

Answer 35

the quality or state of having more than one meaning

Question 36

ambiguous

Answer 36

unclear, uncertain, not definitive

Question 37

upbraid

Answer 37

to scold someone

Question 38

reproach

Answer 38

to express disapprovement

Question 39

castigate

Answer 39

to severely criticize someone

Question 40

rebuke

Answer 40

to criticize

Question 41

nostalgia

Answer 41

a sentimental longing for a place in the past

Question 42

conjecture

Answer 42

an inference

Question 43

obsolete

Answer 43

out of date

Question 44

archaic

Answer 44

very old

Question 45

antiquated

Answer 45

outdated

Question 46

auspicious, propitious

Answer 46

very favorable

Question 47

gaffe

Answer 47

a mistake

Question 48

impasse

Answer 48

a deadlock, a failure of agreement

Question 49

anachronism

Answer 49

the false assignment of a thing in a wrong time period

Question 50

belie

Answer 50

to contradict, to prove false

Question 51

mitigate

Answer 51

to make less serious, less severe, less painful

Question 52

mollify

Answer 52

appease the anger of someone

Question 53

assuage

Answer 53

to ease, to make less intense

Question 54

covet

Answer 54

to strongly desire

Question 55

covetous

Answer 55

grasping, greedy, eager to obtain something

Question 56

antithesis

Answer 56

the direct or exact opposite

Question 57

antithetical

Answer 57

exactly the opposite

Question 58

prototype

Answer 58

an original design

Question 59

aloof

Answer 59

detached, physically or emotionally distant, reserved

Question 60

hackneyed

Answer 60

unoriginal

Question 61

banal

Answer 61

lacking originality

Question 62

platitudinous

Answer 62

overused

Question 63

insipid

Answer 63

lacking flavor or interest

Question 64

antecedent

Answer 64

a preceding event, an event before

Question 65

plausible

Answer 65

believeable, credible

Question 66

implausible

Answer 66

unbelievable, incredible

Question 67

prudent

Answer 67

careful, cautious

Question 68

aesthetic

Answer 68

relating to the nature of beauty, art, and taste

Question 69

paradox

Answer 69

a contradictory statement that is true

Question 70

enigmatic

Answer 70

puzzling, obscure

Question 71

inscrutable

Answer 71

impossible to interpret

Question 72

acquiesce

Answer 72

to comply, to agree

Question 73

naive

Answer 73

overly simple, inexperienced

Question 74

autonomy

Answer 74

independence

Question 75

autonomous

Answer 75

acting independently, not controlled by others

Question 76

futile

Answer 76

completely useless

Question 77

indigenous

Answer 77

native to one area

Question 78

endemic

Answer 78

regularly found among certain people or a certain area

Question 79

ubiquitous

Answer 79

present, found everywhere

Question 80

prevalent

Answer 80

widespread in a particular area or a particular time

Question 81

pandemic

Answer 81

an epidemic that is widespread

Question 82

fortitude

Answer 82

strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or difficulties with courage

Question 83

adversity

Answer 83

difficulty