Lesson 11 (with audio)

Question 1

impotent

Answer 1

(adj.) powerless; lacking strength

Without the gun, he felt impotent.

• syn: ineffective, helpless*
• ant: potent, powerful*

Question 2

imprecation

Answer 2

(noun) a curse

Jennifer was so angry she pronounced an imprecation on him, his family, and all his friends.

Question 3

jocular

Answer 3

(adj.) humorous, lighthearted

Dad was in such a good mood that we all enjoyed dinner because of his jocular manner.

• syn: joking; witty, amusing*
• ant: solemn, morose*

Question 4

juxtapose

Answer 4

(verb) to place side by side for comparison

To reach a decision, list the good points that might result and then list the bad. Examine the juxtaposed lists and see if the positives outweigh the negatives.

Question 5

kinetic

Answer 5

(adj.) pertaining to motion

To demonstrate kinetic energy, he pushed a steel ball off the table.

Question 6

kismet

Answer 6

(noun) destiny; fate; fortune (one’s lot in life)

He said that it was a lucky accident that they had met; she said it was kismet.

Question 7

knell

Answer 7

(noun) a sound made by a bell rung slowly for a death or funeral

Standing at the side of the grave in the rain, they could faintly hear the knell of a church bell.

Question 8

labyrinth

Answer 8

(noun) a complicated network of winding passages; a maze

The mice were made to run through a labyrinth in order to reach their food.

Question 9

lachrymose

Answer 9

(adj.) tearful, weepy

It was time for the girl to get over her lachrymose behavior and start smiling again.

Question 10

laconic

Answer 10

(adj.) using few words; short; concise

He was a laconic man who wasted few words.

• syn: pithy, taciturn*
• ant: verbose, loquacious*

Question 11

lambent

Answer 11

(adj.) softly bright or radiant; running or moving lightly over a surface

Lambent flames gently licked the logs.

Question 12

languid

Answer 12

(adj.) sluggish; drooping from weakness

The hot summer day made everyone feel languid.

• syn: listless, feeble, drooping*
• ant: robust, vigorous*

Question 13

lascivious

Answer 13

(adj.) lustful or lewd; inciting sexual desire

He had a lascivious smile that disgusted the other people in the room.

• syn: wanton, obscene*
• ant: wholesome, decent*

Question 14

legerdemain

Answer 14

(noun) sleight of hand; deception

The magician’s act was an extraordinary feat of legerdemain.

Question 15

libertine

Answer 15

(noun) one who leads an immoral life

During the day he pretended to be righteous, but at night he was a libertine.