Lesson 01 (with audio)

Question 1

adroit

(ǝ droitʹ)

Answer 1

(adj.) skillful, clever

Everyone knew that he was adroit with figures, but he lacked the facility for public speaking.

• syn: dexterous; apt*
• ant: clumsy, awkward*

Question 2

adulterate

(ǝ dŭl tǝ rāt)

Answer 2

• (verb)* to make impure, to contaminate
• (adj.)* impure

The fumes from the automobiles adulterate the air.

The police were concerned about all the adulterated drugs on the street.

ant: refine, refined

Question 3

adventitious

(ădʹ vĕn tĭshʹ ǝs)

Answer 3

(adj.) accidental; nonessential

The scientists announced the breakthrough at a press conference and admitted that it had been an adventitious outcome.

syn: incidental

Question 4

aegis

(ēʹ jĭs)

Answer 4

(noun) a shield; protection; sponsorship

The candidate felt he had a chance in the election because of the aegis of a former officeholder.

syn: backing

Question 5

aesthetic

(ĕs thĕtʹ ĭk)

Answer 5

(adj.) pertaining to beauty

The house was a bargain financially, but it lacked any aesthetic quality.

syn: artistic

Question 6

affectation

(ăf ĕk tāʹ shǝn)

Answer 6

(noun) a phony attitude; pose

John felt that the outspoken Ruth was the only girl there who did not have any affectations.

• syn: insincerity; sham*
• ant: sincerity, genuineness*

Question 7

affinity

(ǝ fĭnʹ ĭ tē)

Answer 7

(noun) an attraction to

The young man had an affinity for fast cars and easy money.

• syn: partiality, fondness*
• ant: aversion*

Question 8

affluence

(ăf lōōʹ ǝns)

Answer 8

(noun) wealth; richness

Although Paul’s family had much affluence, he was content to make do without their help.

• syn: abundance*
• ant: impoverished, destitute*

Question 9

agape

(ǝ gāpʹ)

Answer 9

(adj.) open-mouthed; surprised; agog

Even the judge was agape when the witness told the ridiculous story in court.

syn: awe-stricken

Question 10

aggrandize

(ǝ grănʹ dīz)

Answer 10

(verb) to enlarge; to expand

Much of what they did was not to aid their country but to aggrandize their own positions.

• syn: increase, augment, enrich*
• ant: decrease, diminish*

Question 11

altruism

(ălʹ trōō ĭz ǝm)

Answer 11

(noun) a concern for others; generosity

Ben’s altruism was apparent as he stopped at the scene of the accident to offer his assistance.

• syn: unselfishness, magnanimity*
• ant: selfishness, egoism*

Question 12

ambiguous

(ăm bĭgʹ yōō ǝs)

Answer 12

(adj.) open to more than one interpretation

The candidate’s ambiguous comments tended to confuse the issue even more.

• syn: unclear, uncertain, vague*
• ant: explicit, definite*

Question 13

amoral

(ā môrʹ ǝl)

Answer 13

(adj.) lacking a sense of right and wrong

Although a greedy man, he was not amoral; there were some things he would not do for money.

Question 14

amorphous

(ǝ môrʹ fǝs)

Answer 14

(adj.) shapeless, formless, vague

Although the essay was due in two days, John couldn’t get a handle on the topic, which remained amorphous in his mind.

Question 15

animosity

(ăn ǝ mŏsʹ ĭ tē)

Answer 15

(noun) hatred

There was a general feeling of animosity toward the judge for giving the boys such a harsh sentence.

• syn: ill-will, hostility*
• ant: friendliness, congeniality*