Last Deck

Question 1

impervious
adj

Answer 1

impenetrable; stuff can’t get into it or through it
Ex. Despite the frigid waters, the whale maintains its core temperature due to its layers of impervious blubber.

Question 2

quell
verb

Answer 2

to calm, control, diffuse, reduce confrontation
Ex. The riots that broke out after the bomb went off could not be quelled for nearly three hours.

Question 3

sanguine
adj

Answer 3

cheery, optimistic, positive
Ex. My sister has a sanguine personality; she always sees the glass half-full and assumes the best of everyone.

Question 4

querulous
adj

Answer 4

whiny, complaining in a petty manner
Ex. She hoped the boy she raised would be emotionally strong and well-behaved, but was shocked to find him a querulous brat.

Question 5

behemoth
adj

Answer 5

monstrously large and powerful
Ex. Post-Panamax ships are the largest class of commercial ship ever, and these behemoths are so denominated because they don’t fit in the Panama Canal.

Question 6

obstinate
adj

Answer 6

very stubborn, unable to change one’s mind about a decision
Ex. The obstinate student continued to talk back to the teacher even after receiving three detentions for his disrespectful behavior.

Question 7

permeate
verb

Answer 7

saturate, fill with, soak, go through
Ex. The students were so excited for Christmas break; their joyful and eager excitment permeated through the halls and lifted the teachers’ spirits too.

Question 8

pernicious
adj

Answer 8

extremely harmful, destructive
Ex. The pernicious nature of Alzheimer’s eventually leads to an inability to remember family members, friends, or important memories.

Question 9

tenuous
adj

Answer 9

having little substance or strength, barely holding on
Ex. On Little Round Top, the colonel realized how tenuous the position was and ordered his men to hold their ground to the last man.

Question 10

emulate
verb

Answer 10

copy, mimic, act like
Ex. Douglass Wilkins, an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas, had a long career emulating the King of Rock-n-Roll.

Question 11

abate
verb

Answer 11

to become less active, less intense, or less in amount
Ex. As I began my speech, my feelings of nervousness quickly abated.

Question 12

abysmal
adj

Answer 12

extremely bad, deplorable
Ex. I got an abysmal grade on my research paper!

Question 13

adept
adj

Answer 13

having knowledge or skill (usually in a particular area)
Ex. Beth loves playing the piano, but she’s especially adept at the violin.

Question 14

advent
noun

Answer 14

the arrival or creation of something (usually historic)
Ex. The world has never been the same since the advent of the light bulb.

Question 15

authenticity
noun

Answer 15

the quality of being real and true instead of fake and contrived, veracity
Ex. The police officer doubted the authenticity of the suspect’s story.

Question 16

clout
noun

Answer 16

special advantage or power
Ex. Children of rich and famous people often believe they have a lot of clout.

Question 17

condone
verb

Answer 17

to overlook, approve, or allow
Ex. She couldn’t condone her daughter’s rebellious behavior.

Question 18

corroborate
verb

Answer 18

to provide evidence for; to back up (a claim)
Ex. The note signed by her father corroborates her claim that she was absent from class that day.

Question 19

dispatch
verb

Answer 19

to send off a message or messenger
Ex. The mother dispatched her daughter to their neighbor’s house.

Question 20

endow
verb

Answer 20

to equip or bestow (usually a quality or ability)
Ex. The expert artist endowed his pupils with tremendous wisdom and practical strategies to create beautiful art.