Lesson 8

Question 1

Emaciated (adj.)

Answer 1

Syn: abnormally thin; wasted away

• The emaciated resistance of the Warsaw Ghetto managed to win several skirmishes from the Nazis.

Question 2

Tranquil (adj.)

Answer 2

Syn: quiet; peaceful

• A firecracker terminated the tranquil climate of the neighborhood.

Question 3

Sanctuary (n.)

Answer 3

Syn: shelter; shrine; temple

• When Richard violated the sanctuary of the church to seize the princess, he exceeded his jurisdiction.

Question 4

Surge (vt.) (n.)

Answer 4

Syn: rush suddenly; stream

• Chicago put its heaviest players up front, but they were helpless as the Giant line surged toward them.

Question 5

Ascend (n.) (v.)

Answer 5

Syn: to rise; fly up

• inexorably the determined climber began to ascend the Himalayan peak.

Question 6

Sour grapes (idiom)

Answer 6

Something that you can not have

• We knew that it was just sour grapes on her part.

Question 7

Sinister (adj.)

Answer 7

Syn: evil; ominous

• The stool pigeon, the detective’s confidant, told him about the sinister plot.

Question 8

Besiege (vt.)

Answer 8

Syn: surround; hem in

• By running up a white flag, the besiege troops indicated their desire to withdraw from the fray.

Question 9

Afflict (vt.)

Answer 9

Syn: trouble greatly; distress

• Citizens of several Kentucky mountain communities are afflicted by the worst poverty in the nation.

Question 10

Malnutrition (n.)

Answer 10

Syn: faulty or inadequate diet

• The emaciated prisoners were obviously suffering from advanced malnutrition.

Question 11

Privation (n.)

Answer 11

Syn: lack of necessities; deficiency; poorness

• Albert endured considerable privation as a jungle doctor.

Question 12

To swap horses in midstream (idiom)

Answer 12

To change one’s mind

• The mayor asked for our support, pointed out how foolish it would be to swap horse in midstream.

Question 13

Ubiquitous (adj.)

Answer 13

Syn: being everywhere at the same time; ever present; common

• Sprinting all over the court, the ubiquitous referee called one foul after another.

Question 14

Remote (adj.)

Answer 14

Syn: distant; hidden away

• Ben’s reprehensible table manners led his fraternity brothers to seat him in a remote corner of the dining room.

Question 15

Harbinger (n.)

Answer 15

Syn: a forerunner; advance notice

• The excellent soup was a harbinger of the delicious meal to follow.

Question 16

Thwart (vt.)

Answer 16

Syn: to hinder; defeat

• In an attempt to thwart the voracious ants, he surrounded his house with a moat of burning oil.

Question 17

Malignant (adj.)

Answer 17

Syn: dangerous; harmful; likely to cause death

• The surgeon finally located the malignant tumor that had afflicted his patient for many months.

Question 18

To cool one’s heels (idiom)

Answer 18

To be kept waiting

• The shrewd mayor made the angry delegates cool their heels in his outer office.

Question 19

Excruciating (adj.)

Answer 19

Syn: agonizing; torturing

• With excruciating slowness, the minute hand inched its way around the clock.

Question 20

Reverberating (adj.)

Answer 20

Syn: reechoing; resounding

• The rescue team heard the minor’s voice reverberating through the caves.

Question 21

Fretful (adj.)

Answer 21

Syn: worrisome; irritable

• Around income tax time fretful faces are ubiquitous.

Question 22

Respite (n.)

Answer 22

Syn: an interval of relief; delay

• The voluble insurance salesman gave my father no respite.

Question 23

Succumb (vi.)

Answer 23

Syn: to give way; yield

• Besieged by debts, the corporation finally had to succumb to bankruptcy.

Question 24

A red herring (idiom)

Answer 24

Something that diverts attention from the main issue

• We felt that the introduction of his war record was a red herring to keep us from inquiring into his graft.