Practice test 2 Flashcards
equivocal
Does not take a stand; wishy-washy.
Because she did not take a stand in her opinion article, she should not be surprised to find that her critics wrote the piece off as equivocal.
reprisal
vengeance
The offspring of a clement and empathetic monarch, the king’s eldest daughter nevertheless proved to be implacable ruler. Upon assuming the throne, she immediately sought reprisal for any perceived wrongs against her.
implacable
vengeful
The offspring of a clement and empathetic monarch, the king’s eldest daughter nevertheless proved to be implacable ruler. Upon assuming the throne, she immediately sought reprisal for any perceived wrongs against her.
scorn
Treat with contempt
All felines share a genetic mutation that prevents them from tasting the saccharine flavor of sugar. Another common genetic mutation, congenital deafness, may explain why affected cats seem to scorn commands. Learning about this hearing defect may offer solace to many cat owners who would otherwise be disheartened in thinking that their cats are willfully ignoring them.
portents
Forewarning; auguries
Throughout Homer’s Iliad, the importance of fate and its predictability in ancient Grecian culture is underscored by the dramatic use of auguries/ portents to foreshadow events.
augury
a sign of what will happen in the future
Throughout Homer’s Iliad, the importance of fate and its predictability in ancient Grecian culture is underscored by the dramatic use of auguries/ portents to foreshadow events.
beguile
to fool
Though by no means stupid people, they were beguiled by the speaker’s specious reasoning.
specious
superficially plausible, but actually wrong.
Though by no means stupid people, they were beguiled by the speaker’s specious reasoning.
ingenuous
naive or innocent
Contrary to the sales associate’s expectations, the young couple was not ingenuous when it came to car purchasing. In fact, the savvy pair managed to cajole the associate into giving them the biggest markdown he had ever given a buyer.
cajole
convince
Contrary to the sales associate’s expectations, the young couple was not ingenuous when it came to car purchasing. In fact, the savvy pair managed to cajole the associate into giving them the biggest markdown he had ever given a buyer.
vexation
irritation
It had been customary for members of Lysette’s father’s family to enter medical school upon graduation from college for more than a century. She abjured tradition when, rather than follow in her family’s footsteps, she joined the Peace Corps, to the intense vexation of her parents.
incisive
clear and direct
Employees were divided on the effectiveness of the new manager’s incisive manner; while some praised the fact that he moved expeditiously when making a decision, others believed he did not take enough time to carefully consider all the options.
unwarranted
without reason
The rumor that was propagated on campus about 400-level exams for all disciplines being changed to oral defense was difficult for upper-class students to believe, but the overly credulous first-year students were easily led to believe such implausible stories. Their apprehension over the possible change was unwarranted, however, as the rumored changes would not apply to them or to any of the classes they were taking.
umbrage at
offense at
Even though he was neither explicitly asked nor ordered to do so, Lucius still took umbrage at the insinuation that he should alter his libretto. He was more interested in maintaining complete control over his art than in mitigating the potential public controversy caused by his incendiary work.
incendiary
inflammatory
Even though he was neither explicitly asked nor ordered to do so, Lucius still took umbrage at the insinuation that he should alter his libretto. He was more interested in maintaining complete control over his art than in mitigating the potential public controversy caused by his incendiary work.
