Lesson 3

Question 1

Wrest (vt.)

Answer 1

Syn: take by force

With the help of his brother he was able to wrest the leadership of the company from his partner.

Question 2

Lackluster (adj.)

Answer 2

Syn: dull, unexciting, boring

• Speaking in a monotone, the politician was booed for his lackluster address.

Question 3

Caustic (adj.)

Answer 3

Syn: sarcastic, biting

• In a caustic article, the drama critic slaughtered the hapless actors.

Question 4

Loathe (vt.)

Answer 4

Syn: to hate, dislike

• I loathe spinach but I love other green vegetables.

Question 5

Reprimand (vt.)

Answer 5

Syn: reproof, blame, reproach

• When Ed arrived late, he knew that the grocer would reprimand him.

Question 6

Crocodile tears (idiom)

Answer 6

Syn: insincere tears

• When the football player broke his leg his substitute wept crocodile tears.

Question 7

Incipient (adj.)

Answer 7

Syn: just beginning to exist

• By telling the truth we stopped the incipient rumor from spreading.

Question 8

Infamous (adj.)

Answer 8

Syn: having a bad reputation

• the bombing of Pearl Harbor was referred to as an infamous deed.

Question 9

Dupe (adj.)

Answer 9

Syn: a person easily tricked

• The wealthy dupe consented to buy the often sold Brooklyn bridge.

Question 10

Jostle (vi.) (vt.)

Answer 10

Syn: to shove hard; to push

• When he attempted to jostle the old lady, she struck him with her umbrella.

Question 11

Inadvertent (adj.)

Answer 11

Syn: headless

• Through an inadvertent error, the guided missile sped out of control.

Question 12

To carry the day (idiom)

Answer 12

To win the approval of the majority, to win the honors

• the secretary’s motion that we adjourn for lunch carried the day and we headed for the restaurant.

Question 13

Ominous (adj.)

Answer 13

Syn: threatening, sinister, fateful

• After the weatherman had seen the ominous clouds, he prognosticated rain.

Question 14

Repudiate (vt.)

Answer 14

Syn: to reject; decline

• The general attempted to repudiate the testimony of the lieutenant.

Question 15

Bristle (vi.)

Answer 15

Syn: frighten; horrify

• Upon seeing the snake, the cat began bristle with fear.

Question 16

Tremulous (adj.)

Answer 16

Syn: trembling

• The widow’s tremulous hands reveal her nervousness.

Question 17

Cessation (n.)

Answer 17

Syn: stopping

-The cessation of the bombing in Iraq was urged by the UN.

Question 18

Skid row (idiom)

Answer 18

a poor district of a city or town where there are inexpensive hotels, bars, etc., and where people who are homeless.

• The place is neither skid row nor a main Street.

Question 19

Stipulate (vt.)

Answer 19

Syn: to specify a condition

• We repudiated the contract because it did not stipulate a cost of living bonus.

Question 20

Euphemism (n.)

Answer 20

Syn: polite term

• The word “expired” is a euphemism for “died”.

Question 21

Condolence (n.)

Answer 21

Syn: pity; expression of sympathy

• When my neighbor’s dog was run over, we sent a condolence card.

Question 22

Mundane (adj.)

Answer 22

Syn: wordly; earthly

• The philosopher dealt with spiritual things, ignoring the mundane ones.

Question 23

Incongruous (adj.)

Answer 23

Syn: inappropriate

• The play was so incongruous that is seemed to be the work of several authors.

Question 24

To go up in smoke (idiom)

Answer 24

End fruitlessly

• The mayor plans to get the gubernatorial nomination went up in smoke when he couldn’t end the costly strike.