Character

Question 1

hubristic

Answer 1

(adj.) excessively proud or over-confident

Eg:Pessimistic scenarios of the future become an infinitely hubristic way of reaffirming mankind

Question 2

obsequious

Answer 2

(adj.) too eager to serve ppl and agree with them, flattering

Eg: Far from being obsequious, Merkel is firm with Greece.

Question 3

metaphorical

Answer 3

(adj.) figurative, symbolic

Question 4

onslaught

Answer 4

(n.) Attack, offensive, assault

Eg: There has been an onslaught of criticism against Mr Donald Trump

Question 5

deference

Answer 5

(n.) respect

Eg: The world has great deference for Angela Merkel

Question 6

belies

Answer 6

(v.) contradict, fail to fulfill

Eg: the quality of the music seems to belies the criticism

Question 7

deranged

Answer 7

(adj. ) behaving in a crazy or dangerous way

eg: a person suffering from anxiety or depression is certainly not deranged

Question 8

diffident

Answer 8

(adj. ) shy and unwilling to be noted, timid, reticent

eg: This can lead to young ppl becoming more diffident and anti-social

Question 9

effeminate

Answer 9

(adj. ) a man who looks or behaves like a woman, unmanly

eg: His lips and his handshakes are effeminate.

Question 10

enigma

Answer 10

(n. ) someone or sth that is strange, riddle, puzzle

eg: Everyone considers her as an enigma.

Question 11

fantastical

Answer 11

(adj. ) strange and unreal, unusual

eg: These fantastical figurines have been restored to their former glory with fresh coats of pants.

Question 12

fastidious

Answer 12

(adj. ) picky, fussy, very careful about small details in everything
eg: Many Chinese are fastidious when it comes to preparations for Chinese New Year.

Question 13

finicky

Answer 13

(adj. ) fastidious, fussy, choosy

eg: She is very finicky about what she eats.

Question 14

flair

Answer 14

(n. ) natural ability to do sth very well, elegance

eg: Most Singaporeans have a flair for language and are effectively bilingual.

Question 15

flippant

Answer 15

(adj. ) not being serious about something that other people think you should be serious about; frivolous; superficial
eg: We cannot be flippant about the Chinese tea ceremony

Question 16

bonhomie

Answer 16

(n. ) 溫和; affability

eg: He exuded good humour and bonhomie

Question 17

sacrosanct

Answer 17

(adj.) too important to be interfered with

Eg: this is especially so for those whom national identity is sacrosanct

Question 18

stoic

Answer 18

(n.) patient, tolerant, enduring

Eg: many Journalists remain stoic despite the risks involved in getting accurate frontline news

Question 19

forthright

Answer 19

(adj.) direct, upfront, frank

Eg: the gov was forthright in stating that the aim of the policy is to Ensure that there is a balanced mix of the various ethnic communities in HDB towns

Question 20

slovenly

Answer 20

(adj.) lazy and untidy, messy, dishevelled

Eg: she was criticised for her slovenly dressing

Question 21

spectacle

Answer 21

(n.) an unusual thing or situation to be noticed

Eg: don’t make a spectacle of yourself in public

Question 22

garrulous

Answer 22

(adj.) always talking a lot; talkative; chatty

Eg: while some students are garrulous, others are more withdrawn

Question 23

tolerant

Answer 23

open minded

Question 24

gregarious

Answer 24

(adj.) friendly

Eg: he was a popular and gregarious man

Question 25

diffidence

Answer 25

(n. ) shyness

eg: I say this with some diffidence

Question 26

ostentatious

Answer 26

(adj. ) showy

eg: a simple design that is glamorous and without being ostentatious

Question 27

maverick

Answer 27

(n. ) an unorthodox or independent-minded person; nonconformist
eg: he’s the maverick of the senate

Question 28

intransigence

Answer 28

(n. ) stubbornness

eg: in the face of government intransigence, he resigned in disgust.

Question 29

irascible

Answer 29

(adj. ) having or showing a tendency to be easily angered

eg: an irascible and difficult man

Question 30

irresolute

Answer 30

(adj. ) indecisive; hesitant

eg: she stood irresolute outside his door

Question 31

resolution

Answer 31

(n. ) determination
eg: he handled the last British actions of the war with resoltuion

(n. ) a firm decison to do or not to do sth
eg: she kept her resultion not to see Anne any more

Question 32

refractory

Answer 32

(adj. ) stubborn

eg: his refractory pony

Question 33

reverent

Answer 33

(adj. ) respectful; worshipful

eg: a reverent silence

Question 34

recluse

Answer 34

(n. ) a person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other ppl; hermit
eg: she has turned into a virtual recluse