Direct Hits volume 1 -- set 1

Question 1

antipathy

Answer 1

a feeling of dislike; aversion

Question 3

ambivalent

Answer 3

mixed feelings

Question 4

anomaly / atypical

Answer 4

a deviation from the norm

Question 5

sarcastic / sardonic / snide

Answer 5

derisive mocking comments

Question 6

dearth / paucity

Answer 6

a scarcity or shortage

Question 7

prattle

Answer 7

to babble incessantly

Question 8

wry / droll

Answer 8

dry humor

Question 9

unconventional / unorthodox

Answer 9

not ordinary or typical

Question 10

painstaking / meticulous / exacting

Answer 10

highly detailed

Question 11

fastidious

Answer 11

fussy; very concerned about accuracy or detail

Question 12

audacious

Answer 12

very bold; daring

Question 13

indifferent / apathetic

Answer 13

lack of interest or concern

Question 14

diffident

Answer 14

shy; lacking self-confidence

Question 15

pragmatic

Answer 15

practical

Question 16

evocative

Answer 16

bringing strong memories or feelings to mind

Question 17

presumptuous

Answer 17

overbearing; impertinently bold

Question 18

recalcitrant / obdurate

Answer 18

very stubborn; obstinant

Question 19

boon

Answer 19

a blessing or benifit

Question 20

bane

Answer 20

a source of harm

Question 21

clandestine / surreptitious

Answer 21

secretive; not aboveboard; covert

Question 22

affable / amiable / genial / gregarious

Answer 22

agreeable; friendly

Question 23

austere

Answer 23

bare; not ornate; spartan

Question 24

austerity

Answer 24

extreme plainness or simplicity

Question 25

altruistic

Answer 25

unselfish concern for others

Question 26

ambiguous

Answer 26

unclear; not definitive

Question 27

upbraid / reproach / castigate

Answer 27

to scold; rebuke

Question 28

nostalgia

Answer 28

sentimental longing for the past

Question 29

conjecture / supposition

Answer 29

an inference

Question 30

obsolete / archaic / antiquated

Answer 30

no longer in use

Question 31

auspicious / propitious

Answer 31

promising good things; favorable

Question 32

morose / despondent

Answer 32

very depressed

Question 33

dissemble

Answer 33

disguise or conceal

Question 34

impasse

Answer 34

failure to reach an agreement

Question 35

anachronism

Answer 35

not in the proper time period

Question 36

belie

Answer 36

to give a false impression

Question 37

mitigate / mollify / assuage / alleviate

Answer 37

to ease; relieve; lessen

Question 38

covet

Answer 38

to strongly desire; to crave

Question 39

antithesis / antithetical / antipodal

Answer 39

direct opposite

Question 40

prototype

Answer 40

an original model

Question 41

aloof

Answer 41

detached; reserved

Question 42

trite / hackneyed / pedestrian / platitudinous / banal / insipid

Answer 42

commonplace

Question 43

antecedent / forerunner / precursor

Answer 43

a preceding event

Question 44

plausible

Answer 44

believable

Question 45

implausible

Answer 45

not believable

Question 46

prudent

Answer 46

careful; cautious

Question 47

aesthetic

Answer 47

an appreciation of what is beautiful or attractive

Question 48

paradox

Answer 48

a seeming contradiction that expresses a truth

Question 49

enigmatic / inscrutable

Answer 49

mysterious; baffling

Question 50

acquiesce

Answer 50

to comply

Question 51

naive / gullible / credulous

Answer 51

unsophisticated

Question 52

autonomous

Answer 52

independent

Question 53

futile

Answer 53

doomed to failure

Question 54

indigenous / endemic

Answer 54

native to an area