Ets official gre verbal reasoning RC Flashcards
1
Q
paradox
A
- COUNTABLE NOUN
You describe a situation as a paradox when it involves two or more facts or qualities which seem to contradict each other.
The paradox is that the region’s most dynamic economies have the most primitive financial systems.
The paradox of exercise is that while using a lot of energy it seems to generate more.
Death itself is a paradox, the end yet the beginning.
Synonyms: contradiction, mystery, puzzle, ambiguity More Synonyms of paradox - VARIABLE NOUN
A paradox is a statement in which it seems that if one part of it is true, the other part of it cannot be true.
The story contains many levels of paradox.
Although I’m so successful I’m really rather a failure. That’s a paradox, isn’t it?
2
Q
subside
A
- VERB
If a feeling or noise subsides, it becomes less strong or loud.
The pain had subsided during the night. [VERB]
Catherine’s sobs finally subsided. [VERB]
Synonyms: decrease, diminish, lessen, ease More Synonyms of subside - VERB
If fighting subsides, it becomes less intense or general.
Violence has subsided following two days of riots. [VERB] - VERB
If the ground or a building is subsiding, it is very slowly sinking to a lower level.
Does that mean the whole house is subsiding? [VERB]
Synonyms: collapse, sink, cave in, drop More Synonyms of subside - VERB
If a level of water, especially flood water, subsides, it goes down.
Local officials say the flood waters have subsided. [VERB]
Synonyms: drop, fall, decline, ebb
3
Q
readily
A
- ADVERB [ADVERB with verb]
If you do something readily, you do it in a way which shows that you are very willing to do it.
I asked her if she would allow me to interview her, and she readily agreed.
When I was invited to the party, I readily accepted.
Synonyms: willingly, freely, quickly, gladly More Synonyms of readily - ADVERB [ADVERB adjective, ADVERB with verb]
You also use readily to say that something can be done or obtained quickly and easily. For example, if you say that something can be readily understood, you mean that people can understand it quickly and easily.
The components are readily available in hardware shops.
I don’t readily make friends.
Synonyms: promptly, quickly, easily, smoothly
4
Q
speculative
A
- ADJECTIVE
A piece of information that is speculative is based on guesses rather than knowledge.
The papers ran speculative stories about his mysterious disappearance.
He has written a speculative biography of Christopher Marlowe.
Synonyms: hypothetical, academic, theoretical, abstract More Synonyms of speculative - ADJECTIVE
Someone who has a speculative expression seems to be trying to guess something about a person or thing.
His mother regarded him with a speculative eye.
speculatively GRADED ADVERB [ADVERB with verb]
I caught her eyes on me speculatively. I imagined she was wondering about my relationship with Max. - ADJECTIVE
Speculative is used to describe activities which involve buying goods or shares, or buildings and properties, in the hope of being able to sell them again at a higher price and make a profit.
Thousands of pensioners were persuaded to mortgage their homes to invest in speculative bonds.
The King’s Reach hotel was built as a speculative venture but never completed.
5
Q
offset
A
VERB
If one thing is offset by another, the effect of the first thing is reduced by the second, so that any advantage or disadvantage is cancelled out.
The increase in pay costs was more than offset by higher productivity. [be VERB-ed]
The move is designed to help offset the shortfall in world oil supplies. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: cancel out, balance, set off, make up
6
Q
substantially
A
- ADVERB [ADVERB with verb]
If something changes substantially or is substantially different, it changes a lot or is very different.
[formal]
The percentage of girls in engineering has increased substantially.
The skin of an eighty-year-old looks substantially different from that of a twenty-year-old.
The price was substantially higher than had been expected.
The warrants were sold to them at prices substantially below market value.
Synonyms: considerably, significantly, very much, greatly More Synonyms of substantially - ADVERB [ADVERB adjective]
If you say that something is substantially correct or unchanged, you mean that it is mostly correct or mostly unchanged.
[formal]
He checked the details given and found them substantially correct.
BBC Television remains otherwise substantially unchanged.
Synonyms: essentially, largely, mainly, materially
7
Q
impart
A
- VERB
If you impart information to people, you tell it to them.
[formal]
The ability to impart knowledge is the essential qualification for teachers. [VERB noun]
I am about to impart knowledge to you that you will never forget. [VERB noun + to] - VERB
To impart a particular quality to something means to give it that quality.
[formal]
She managed to impart great elegance to the unpretentious dress she was wearing. [VERB noun + to]
His production of Harold Pinter’s play fails to impart a sense of excitement or danger. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: give, accord, lend, bestow
8
Q
Pagan
A
- ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Pagan beliefs and activities do not belong to any of the main religions of the world and take nature and a belief in many gods as a basis. They are older, or are believed to be older, than other religions.
Synonyms: heathen, infidel, irreligious, polytheistic More Synonyms of pagan - COUNTABLE NOUN [oft NOUN noun]
In former times, pagans were people who did not believe in Christianity and who many Christians considered to be inferior people.
The new religion was eager to convert the pagan world.
Eggs were associated with spring and fertility by pagans.
Synonyms: heathen [old-fashioned], infidel, unbeliever, polytheist
9
Q
gluttony
A
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Gluttony is the act or habit of eating too much and being greedy.
Gluttony is a deadly sin.
Synonyms: greed, rapacity, voracity, greediness
10
Q
pilomotor
A
ADJECTIVE
physiology
causing movement of hairs
pilomotor nerves
11
Q
vestigial
A
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Vestigial is used to describe the small amounts of something that still remain of a larger or more important thing.
[formal]
Vestigial remains of these plays are now seen in the Christmas pantomime.
12
Q
fur
A
- VARIABLE NOUN
Fur is the thick and usually soft hair that grows on the bodies of many mammals.
This creature’s fur is short, dense and silky.
Synonyms: coat, hair, skin, hide More Synonyms of fur - VARIABLE NOUN [oft NOUN noun]
Fur is the fur-covered skin of an animal that is used to make clothing or small carpets.
She had on a black coat with a fur collar.
…the trading of furs from Canada. - COUNTABLE NOUN
A fur is a coat made from real or artificial fur, or a piece of fur worn round your neck.
There were women in furs and men in comfortable overcoats. - VARIABLE NOUN
Fur is an artificial fabric that looks like fur and is used, for example, to make clothing, soft toys, and seat covers.
13
Q
quill
A
- COUNTABLE NOUN
A quill is a pen made from a bird’s feather.
She dipped a quill in ink, then began to write. - COUNTABLE NOUN
A bird’s quills are large, stiff feathers on its wings and tail. - COUNTABLE NOUN
The quills of a porcupine are the long sharp points on its body.
14
Q
puny
A
ADJECTIVE
Someone or something that is puny is very small or weak.
…a lanky, puny youth.
The resources at the central banks’ disposal are simply too puny.
15
Q
egalitarian
A
ADJECTIVE
Egalitarian means supporting or following the idea that all people are equal and should have the same rights and opportunities.
I still believe in the notion of an egalitarian society.
Synonyms: equal, just, fair, equable
