History and Geography

Question 1

repudiate

Answer 1

• to reject; disavow
  The Hollywood couple repudiated claims in the press that their marriage was over; however, a month later they filed for divorce.

Question 2

anachronism

Answer 2

• a person or event that is chronologically in the wrong time
  The Back to the Future movies contain a number of amusing anachronisms

Question 3

accord

Answer 3

• an agreement
  In the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Captain Jack Sparrow and Will reach an accord: Will agrees to free Sparrow and Sparrow will help Will find Elizabeth.

Question 4

capitulate

Answer 4

• to surrender; to give up
  In her defiant song “White Flag,” Dido refuses to capitulate: Well, I will go down with this ship
  And I won’t put my hands up and surrender There will be no white flag above my door I’m in love and always will be

Question 5

enlighten

Answer 5

• to inform; instruct; illuminate and thus remove ignorance
  Writers such as Voltaire enlightened European society by urging people to use science and reason instead of blindly following their prejudices.

Question 6

appeasement

Answer 6

• giving in to someone’s demands

Great Britain and France appeased Hitler at the Munich Conference.

Question 7

stipulate

Answer 7

• to specify; set forth

The contract with the decorator stipulates the maximum amount he can charge.

Question 8

pretext

Answer 8

• an excuse; an alleged reason
  Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat talks his way into the children’s house under the pretext that he would like to come in to get out of the snow.

Question 9

watershed

Answer 9

• a turning point; an event that is of critical importance

President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb was a watershed event in 20th century history.

Question 10

autonomy

Answer 10

• self-rule; independence

In the movie Men in Black, the MIB is an autonomous government organization.

Question 11

manifesto

Answer 11

• a public declaration of beliefs
  Published in 1848, the Communist Manifesto publicly declared the radical economic beliefs of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

Question 12

dovish

Answer 12

• favoring peace

During the Vietnam War, America was divided between Hawks whosupported the war and Doves who opposed it.

Question 13

enfranchise

Answer 13

• to grant voting rights

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 enfranchised African-American voters.

Question 14

potentate

Answer 14

• any powerful ruler; sovereign

Hitler was a brutal potentate.