Lesson 17

Question 1

Fallacious (adj.)

Answer 1

Syn: misleading; confusing

• Because the inspector had given only cursory attention to the reports, I surmised that his conclusion would be fallacious.

Question 2

Consummate (vt.) (adj.)

Answer 2

Syn: complete; of the highest degree; perfect

• Johnny Cochrane, the famous and controversial lawyer, gave consummate attention to the preparation of every case.

Question 3

Concoct (vt.)

Answer 3

Syn: devise; invent

• It was necessary for the interloper to concoct a convincing story in order to gain access to the exhibit.

Question 4

Perpetrate (vt.)

Answer 4

Syn: commit; execute; perform

• In order to perpetrate the swindle, the jaunty confidence man adopted an amorous approach toward the wealthy widow.

Question 5

Subterfuge (n.)

Answer 5

Syn: ruse; deception; trick

• The experienced teacher realized that Ricky’s stomachache was merely a subterfuge to keep him from taking the French test.

Question 6

to draw in one’s horns (idiom)

Answer 6

to become cautious

→ He knew he was out of his depth, so he drew in his horns and quit the poker game.

Question 7

Manifold (n.) (adj.)

Answer 7

Syn: complex; many; diverse; various

Burdened by her manifold responsibilities,
the young executive was precluded from enjoying her new wealth.

Question 8

Fraught(adj.)

Answer 8

Syn: filled; worried

• Fear permeated the crippled airplane as the passengers realized that their situation was fraught with danger.

Question 9

Impeccable (adj.)

Answer 9

Syn: faultless; sinless; pure; perfect

• Although basically frugal, his taste in clothing is impeccable.

Question 10

Resourceful (adj.)

Answer 10

Syn: creative; talented; able to meet any situation

• The store owner was resourceful enough to run a sale the day after his building had been razed by the flames.

Question 11

Assiduous (adj.)

Answer 11

Syn: devoted; attentive; hard working

• Florence Nightingale was a paragon of mercy in her assiduous care for the wounded soldiers.

Question 12

To put the cart before the horse (idiom.)

Answer 12

To reverse the proper order; do things backwards

• My assistant was so eager to get the job done that he often put the cart before the horse.

Question 13

Hoax (n.) (vt.)

Answer 13

Syn: deception; spoof

• The practical joker had the temerity to perpetrate a hoax upon the Dean of boys.

Question 14

Component (adj.) (n.)

Answer 14

Syn: element; constituent; unit

• A good motion picture producer should be skilled in all the manifold component of film making.

Question 15

Labyrinth (n.)

Answer 15

Syn: arrangement of winding passages; complexity

• After wandering through the labyrinth, the young hero came face to face with the dragon who was indigenous to the caves.

Question 16

Evaluate (vt.)

Answer 16

Syn: appraise; find the value of; calculate

• When I asked teacher to evaluate my plan for the term paper, her incisive comments were very helpful.

Question 17

Murky (adj.)

Answer 17

Syn: dark; obscure; dim; dull

• The murky quality of the artist’s latest painting is the antithesis of her former style.

Question 18

To turn the tables (idiom.)

Answer 18

To turn a situation to one’s own advantage

• The wrestler thought that he could pin me to the mat, but I quickly turned the tables on him.

Question 19

Gullible (adj.)

Answer 19

Syn: easily cheated or fooled; simple

• Explaining that the bookkeeper was merely a gullible dupe, the judge freed him from complicity in the crime.

Question 20

Deploy (vt.) (vi.)

Answer 20

Syn: arrange; use; utilize; to position forces according to a plan

• As the audience watched the master deploy his chess pieces, they applauded his virtuosity.

Question 21

Attest (vt.) (vi.)

Answer 21

Syn: certify; witness; assure; confirm

• An expert was summoned to attest to authenticity of the Rembrandts found in the Nazi cache of stolen masterpieces.

Question 22

Exult (vi.)

Answer 22

Syn: rejoice greatly; celebrate

When the College Board scores were promulgated, my sister had good cause to exult.

Question 23

Enigma (n.)

Answer 23

Syn: riddle; conundrum; puzzle

• I could not solve the enigma of why an altruistic person should exhibit such cupidity.

Question 24

A chip off the old block (idiom.)

Answer 24

A son who is like his father

• When we saw the alcoholic’s son enter the liquor store, we assumed that he was a chip off of the old block.