Chapter 15

Question 1

altruism, n.

altruistic, adj.

Answer 1

Thinking of the needs and desires of others rather than

your own.

Question 2

decadence, n.

Answer 2

the state of having low moral standards and being more

concerned with pleasure than with serious matters.

Question 3

deleterious, adj.

Answer 3

Damaging or harmful.

Question 4

partisan, adj.

Answer 4

Strongly supporting one particular party, plan, leader, etc., and not liking all others

Question 5

nonchalant, adj.

Answer 5

Behaving calmly and not seeming interested or worried about anything.

Question 6

morose, adj.

Answer 6

In a bad mood, unhappy, silent

Question 7

demeanor, n.

Answer 7

The way someone behaves, dresses, speaks, etc., that shows what his character is like

Question 8

conciliatory,

adj.

Answer 8

Doing something that is intended to make someone stop arguing and agree on something.

Question 9

apprehension,

n.

Answer 9

1. Anxiety about the future 2. The act of apprehending someone

Question 10

aloof, adj.

Answer 10

1. not friendly especially because you think you are better than other people. 2. to not become involved in anything.

Question 11

austere, adj.

Answer 11

1. someone who is very strict and looks very serious. 2. plain and simple and without any decoration. 3. few things to make life comfortable or enjoyable.

Question 12

authoritarian,

adj.

Answer 12

strictly forcing people to obey a set of rules or laws, especially ones that are often wrong or unfair.

Question 13

cynical, adj.

Answer 13

1. unwilling to believe that people have good reasons for doing something. 2. not following accepted standards of behavior.

Question 14

negligence, n.

Answer 14

Failure to do something that you are responsible for in a careful enough way, so that something bad happens or could happen.

Question 15

contrite, adj.

Answer 15

Feeling guilty and sorry for something you have done, or showing that you feel this way.

Question 16

provincial, adj.

Answer 16

1. relating to or coming from a province or from the parts of a county that are not near the capital. 2. not interested in anything that does not relate to your own life and experiences.

Question 17

crass, adj.

Answer 17

offensive or rude, and not always knowing what is truly important

Question 18

caustic, adj.

Answer 18

1. Extremely unkind and full of criticism. 2. Can burn through things by chemical action.

Question 19

guile, n.

Answer 19

the use of dishonest methods to deceive someone.

Question 20

depravity, n.

Answer 20

The state of being evil or morally unacceptable.

Question 21

furtive, adj.

Answer 21

Behaving as if you want to keep something a secret.

Question 22

clandestine, adj.

Answer 22

Secret organizations, often illegal

Question 23

brusque, adj.

Answer 23

Using very few words in a way that seems rude but is not intended to be.

Question 24

spurious, adj.

Answer 24

A spurious statement is not based on facts or good reasoning and is likely to be incorrect.