Lesson 7

Question 1

Implacable (adj.)

Answer 1

Syn: can not be pacified; inexorable; inflexible

• The detective was implacable in his search for the murder weapon.

Question 2

Jurisdiction (n.)

Answer 2

Syn: power; range of authority

• Saying that it was beyond his jurisdiction, judge Klein refused to rule on the case.

Question 3

Paroxysm (n.)

Answer 3

Syn: sudden outburst; a fit; attack

• In a paroxysm of rage, the tenant stormed out of the landlord’s office.

Question 4

Skirmish (n.) (vi.)

Answer 4

Syn: fight; encounter; battle; combat

• The precocious boy enjoyed an intellectual skirmish with his elders.

Question 5

Reprehensible (adj.)

Answer 5

Syn: worthy of blame; shameful

• The brash student was forced to apologize for her reprehensible conduct.

Question 6

Cause celebre (idiom)

Answer 6

A famous law case or controversy

• It was a minor dispute, but the ambitious lawyer sought to turn it into a cause celebre.

Question 7

Fray (n.)

Answer 7

Syn: fight; combat; conflict

• After the fray, the feuding families agreed to patch up their differences.

Question 8

Indigent (adj.)

Answer 8

Syn: poor; needy

• The indigent client was surprised when she was accosted by her social worker in the elegant restaurant.

Question 9

Arbitrary (adj.)

Answer 9

Syn: based on whim; dictatorial; chance

• To my mind the decision was unreasonable and arbitrary.

Question 10

Monolithic (adj.)

Answer 10

Syn: massively solid

• George Orwell’s 1984 depicts a frightening, monolithic government.

Question 11

Harass (vt.)

Answer 11

Syn: trouble; torment

• if anonymous telephone callers harass you, the phone company will give you an unlisted number.

Question 12

One swallow does not make a summer (idiom)

Answer 12

Don’t jump to conclusions based on incomplete evidence

• Sure, the Yankees won their opening game, but one swallow does not make a summer.

Question 13

Effigy (n.)

Answer 13

Syn: a likeness (usually of a hated person); idol; figure

• Coach of losing team hanged in effigy.

Question 14

Stymie (n.) (vt.)

Answer 14

Syn: to hinder, impede

• Cause of cancer continues to stymie doctors.

Question 15

Cognizant (adj.)

Answer 15

Syn: aware

• F.B.I. cognizant of clandestine gangland meetings.

Question 16

Flout (vt.)

Answer 16

Syn: show contempt; scorn; scoff

• Many motorists flout traffic laws, study reveals.

Question 17

Turbulent (adj.)

Answer 17

Syn: unruly; agitated

• Turbulent atmosphere in angry senate chamber.

Question 18

A bitter pill to swallow (idiom)

Answer 18

A humiliating defeat

• It was a bitter pill to swallow for the famous billiard player to be overwhelmed by the 12-year old girl.

Question 19

Terminate (vi.) (vt.)

Answer 19

Syn: to end

• It seemed incongruous to terminate his employment just when he was so successful.

Question 20

Forthwith (adv.)

Answer 20

Syn: immediately; right away

• Upon seeing the show he called the TV studio forthwith to protest.

Question 21

Oust (vt.)

Answer 21

Syn: to drive out; eject

• The ushers moved with alacrity to oust the disorderly patrons.

Question 22

Revert (vi.)

Answer 22

Syn: return

• after taking the drug, she began to revert to the days of her childhood.

Question 23

Exacerbate (vt.)

Answer 23

Syn: to irritate; make worse

• The arrest of the spy did much to exacerbate relations between the two countries.

Question 24

An ax to grind (idiom)

Answer 24

Having a selfish motive in background

• I am always dubious about a motives of a man who tell me that he has no ax to grind.