EC2.5

Question 1

decry

publicly denounce, criticize

Answer 1

Voters decried the alleged $10 million payment to Beyoncé for a three-minute speech at the vice president’s rally, calling it a waste of campaign funds.

Question 2

cursory

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed (low-key ininterested)

Answer 2

The committee’s cursory review of the proposed budget overlooked several critical errors, leading to widespread criticism from both economists and lawmakers.

Question 3

credulity

a tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true

Answer 3

Ruja Ignatova, founder of OneCoin Ltd., exploited the credulity of people worldwide, convincing them they could get rich by investing in her purported cryptocurrency and defrauding them of over $4 billion.

Question 4

detrimental

causing injury or damage to something

Answer 4

Diets that cut out entire food groups can have a detrimental effect on young people’s physical and mental health, as they can cause nutrient deficiencies, disordered eating habits, and a negative relationship with food.

Question 5

deterrent

something that discourages something or someone

Answer 5

Hefty penalties, such as jail time, fines, and license revocation for repeat offenders, are designed to act as deterrents to those who have previously committed DUI offenses.

Question 6

equivocal

• ambiguous (the equivocal nature of her remarks)
• being intentionally vague/misleading (he has always been equivocal about the meaning of his lyrics)
• uncertain or questionable in nature (the results of the investigation were equivocal)

Answer 6

The award-winning romance novelist has always been equivocal about who inspired one of her characters, avoiding any hints that might reveal the identity of her past love interest.

Question 7

juxtaposition

two things being placed close together with contrasting effect

Answer 7

Tourists in Skopje encounter an eerie juxtaposition: the grandeur of the city center’s buildings and statues contrasts sharply with the poverty and homelessness of residents just minutes away.

Question 8

latent

• (of a quality or state) existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden or concealed (talent)
• in biology, dormant

Answer 8

Even after recovery, the Epstein-Barr virus remains latent in memory B cells for life, with the potential to reactivate.

Question 9

officious

• assertive of authority in a domineering way, especially with regard to trivial matters
• intrusively enthusiastic in offering help or advice; interfering.

Answer 9

Couples are often advised to move out of their family homes after marriage to avoid interference from officious in-laws, whose well-meaning but unwanted advice can sometimes cause more harm than good.

Question 10

opportunist

Answer 10

California’s shoplifting law, which classifies theft of goods worth $950 or less as a misdemeanor, has been criticized for allowing opportunists to exploit the system and commit theft with minimal consequences.