Lesson 8 Flashcards
exaggerate
make something greater than it is; overstate
a. He wasn’t trying to deceive* you when he said that his was the best car in the world; he was just exaggerating.
b. The bookkeeper exaggerated her importance to the company.
c. When he said that O’Neal was eight feet tall, he was undoubtedly* exaggerating.
amateur
person who does something for pleasure, not for money or as a profession
a. The amateur cross-country runner wanted to be in the Olympics.
b. After his song, Don was told that he wasn’t good enough to be anything but an amateur.
c. Professional golfers resent* amateurs who think they are as good as the people who play for money.
mediocre
neither good nor bad; average; ordinary
a. After reading my composition, Mrs. Evans remarked that it was mediocre and that I could do better.
b. Howard was a mediocre scientist who never made any unique* discoveries.
c. The movie wasn’t a great one; it was only mediocre.
variety
lack of sameness; a number of different things
a. Eldorado Restaurant serves a wide variety of foods.
b. The show featured a variety of entertainment.
c. He faced unforeseen* problems for a variety of reasons.
valid
supported by facts or authority; sound; true
a. The witness neglected* to give valid answers to the judge’s questions.
b. Rita had valid reasons for denouncing* her father’s way of life.
c. When Dave presented valid working papers, the foreman consented* to hiring him immediately.
survive
live longer than; remain alive after
a. It was uncertain whether we would survive the torrent* of rain.
b. Some people believe that only the strongest should survive.
c. The space capsule* was built to survive a long journey in space.
weird
mysterious; unearthly
a. She looked weird with that horrible makeup on her face. b. Allen felt that weird things were starting to happen when he entered the haunted house.
c. Becky had a weird feeling after swallowing the pills.
prominent
well-known; important
a. My client* is a prominent businessperson.
b. Napoleon is a prominent figure in the history of France.
c. Her violet eyes were the prominent feature of the model’s face.
security
freedom from danger, care, or fear; feeling or condition of being safe
a. Our janitor likes the security of having all doors locked at night.
b. When the president travels, strict security measures are taken.
c. Pablo wanted to preserve* the security of his lifestyle.
bulky
taking up much space; large
a. Charley and Morty removed the bulky package from the car.
b. The massive* desk was quite bulky and impossible to carry.
c. His client* wanted an item that wasn’t so bulky, Olsen told us.
reluctant
unwilling
a. It was easy to see that Herman was reluctant to go out and find a job.
b. The patient was reluctant to tell the nurse the whole gloomy* truth.
c. I was reluctant to give up the security* of family life.
obvious
easily seen or understood; clear to the eye or mind; not to be doubted; plain
a. It was obvious that the lumberjack was tired after his day’s work.
b. The fact that Darcy was a popular* boy was obvious to all.
c. The detective missed the clue because it was too obvious.
