Core Vocabulary I: 1-50

Question 0

Audacious

Answer 0

Fearlessly, often recklessly daring; very bold

Question 1

Diffident

Answer 1

Lacking self-confidence; self-effacing; NOT assertive

Question 2

Wry

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Indifferent and Apathetic

Answer 3

Marked by a lack of interest or concern

Question 4

Anomaly

Answer 4

Deviation from the norm, something that is ATYPICAL

Question 5

Pragmatic

Answer 5

Practical; sensible; NOT idealistic or romantic

Question 6

Painstaking and Meticulous

Answer 6

Extremely careful; very EXACTING

Question 7

Unconventional and Unorthodox

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Prattle

Answer 8

To speak in a foolish manner, to babble incessantly

Question 9

Dearth and Paucity

Answer 9

A scarcity or shortage of something

Question 10

Sarcastic, Sardonic, Snide

Answer 10

Mocking, derisive, taunting, and stinging

Question 11

Ambivalent

Answer 11

Contradictory, having mixed feelings

Question 12

Evocation

Answer 12

An imaginative re-creation

Question 13

Presumptuous

Answer 13

Overbearing; impertinently bold; characterized by brashly overstepping one’s place

Question 14

Recalcitrant

Answer 14

Stubborn resistance to and defiance of authority or guidance; OBSTINATE; OBDURATE

Question 15

Boon

Bane

Answer 15

A timely benefit; blessing

A source of harm and ruin

Question 16

Clandestine and Surreptitious

Answer 16

Secret; covert; not open; NOT ABOVEBOARD

Question 17

Affable, Amiable, Genial, Gregarious

Answer 17

All mean agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly

Question 18

Austere

Austerity

Answer 18

Having no adornment or ornamentation; bare; not ORNATE

The trait of great self-denial; strict economy; severity of manner, life; sternness

Question 19

Altruistic

Answer 19

Unselfish concern for the welfare of others

Question 20

Ambiguous

Answer 20

Unclear; uncertain; open to more than one interpretation; not definitive

Question 21

Upbraid, reproach, castigate

Answer 21

To express disapproval; scold; rebuke; CENSURE

Question 22

Nolstalgia

Answer 22

A sentimental longing for the past

Question 23

Conjecture

Answer 23

An inference based upon guesswork; a SUPPOSITION

Question 24

Obsolete, Archaic, Antiquated

Answer 24

No longer in use; outmoded in design or style

Question 25

Auspicious and Propitious

Answer 25

Very favorable

Question 26

Morose

Answer 26

Very depressed, DESPONDENT, mournful

Question 27

Impasse

Answer 27

A deadlock; stalemate; failure to reach an agreement

Question 28

Anachronism

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Belie

Answer 29

To give a false impression; to contradict

Question 30

Mitigate, Mollify, Assuage, Alleviate

Answer 30

All mean to relieve; to lessen; to ease

Question 31

Covet

Answer 31

To strongly desire; to crave

Question 32

Antithesis and Antithetical

Answer 32

Direct opposite; the complete reverse; ANTIPODE

Question 33

Prototype

Answer 33

An original model

Question 34

Aloof

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Trite, Hackneyed, Banal, Platitudinous, Insipid

Answer 35

All mean unoriginal; commonplace; overused; CLICHED

Question 36

Antecedent

Answer 36

A preceding event; a FORERUNNER; a PRECURSOR

Question 37

Plausible Implausible

Answer 37

Believable; credible Unbelievable; incredible

Question 38

Prudent

Answer 38

Careful; cautious; sensible

Question 39

Aesthetic

Answer 39

Relating to what is beautiful; an appreciation of what is beautiful or attractive

Question 40

Paradox

Answer 40

A seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless expresses a truth

Question 41

Enigmatic and Inscrutable

Answer 41

Mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling

Question 42

Acquiesce

Answer 42

To comply, agree, give in

Question 43

Naive and Gullible

Answer 43

Unaffected simplicity; lacking worldly expertise; overly CREDULOUS; unsophisticated

Question 44

Autonomous

Answer 44

Independent; not controlled by others

Question 45

Futile

Answer 45

Completely useless; doomed to failure

Question 46

Indigenous and Endemic

Answer 46

Both mean native to an area

Question 47

Ubiquitous and Prevalent

Answer 47

Characterized by being everywhere; omnipresent; widespread; PERVASIVE

Question 48

Pandemic

Answer 48

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

Question 49

Fortitude

Answer 49

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