Set 10

Question 1

acumen

Answer 1

the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions
e.g. His sharp business acumen meant he quickly rose to the top

Question 2

antithesis

Answer 2

a person or a thing that is direct opposite of someone or something else

(in Hegelian philosophy) the negation of the thesis as the second stage in the process of dialectical reasoning

Question 3

ascribe

Answer 3

regard something as being due to (a cause) / assign
e.g. An autopsy eventually ascribes the baby’s death to sudden infant death syndrome

Question 4

befuddled

Answer 4

cause to become unable to think clearly
e.g. She was befuddled and did not know what she was doing

Question 5

eschew

Answer 5

deliberately avoid using

abstain from
e.g. Although he appeared to enjoy a jet-setting life, he eschewed publicity and avoided nightclubs

Question 6

esoteric

Answer 6

intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialised knowledge or interest
e.g. His esoteric interests set him apart from his contemporaries

Question 7

evasive

Answer 7

tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by responding only indirectly
e.g. Direct questions would almost certainly result in evasive answers

Question 8

exculpate

Answer 8

show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing
e.g. However, none of this should be used to excuse or exculpate our own misdeeds

Question 9

expedite

Answer 9

make (an action or process) happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly
e.g. We tried to help you expedite your plans

Question 10

fastidious

Answer 10

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail
e.g. He was fastidious about his appearance

Question 11

feign

Answer 11

pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state or injury)

Question 12

furtive

Answer 12

attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guild or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble, secretive
e.g. With a furtive glance over her shoulder, she unlocked the door and entered the house

Question 13

hamper

Answer 13

hinder or impede the movement or progress of

a basket with a carrying handle and a hinged lid, used for food, cutlery and plates on a picnic

Question 14

indispensable

Answer 14

absolutely necessary

Question 15

lament

Answer 15

a passionate expression of grief or sorrow
e.g. Ken began to lament the death of his only son

Question 16

myopic

Answer 16

short-sighted

lacking foresight or intellectual insight
e.g. The Government still has a myopic attitude to spending

Question 17

nonchalant

Answer 17

(of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm
e.g. Clark’s mother is nonchalant about her role in her son’s latest work

Question 18

partial

Answer 18

existing only in part; incomplete

favouring one side in a dispute above the other; biased

having a liking for

Question 19

pensive

Answer 19

engaged in, involving or reflecting deep or serious thoughts
e.g. He looked suddenly sombre, pensive

Question 20

portend

Answer 20

be a sign of warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen
e.g. The change did not portend a basic improvement in social conditions

Question 21

provincial

Answer 21

of or concerning a province or country or empire

of or concerning the regions outside the capital city of a country, especially when regarded as unsophisticated or narrow-minded

Question 22

rudimentary

Answer 22

involving or limited to basic principles

Question 23

salutary

Answer 23

(especially with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial
e.g. It was a salutary experience to be in the minority

Question 24

sever

Answer 24

divide by cutting or slicing, especially suddenly and forcibly

put an end to (a connection or relationship); break off

Question 25

slight

Answer 25

insult (someone) by treating or speaking of them without proper respect or attention
e.g. They felt slighted by not being adequately consulted

small in degree; inconsiderable

(of a person or their build) not sturdy; thin or slender

Question 26

somnolent

Answer 26

sleepy; drowsy
e.g. The sedative makes people very somnolent

Question 27

stoic

Answer 27

a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining

a member of the ancient philosophical school of Stoicism

Question 28

supersede

Answer 28

take the place of (a person or thing previously in authority or use); supplant

Question 29

tout

Answer 29

attempt to sell (something), typically by a direct or persistent approach;
attempt to persuade people of the merits of
e.g. It has the trappings of an election campaign in the United States, with slick television ads touting the candidates

Question 30

wane

Answer 30

(of a state or feeling) decrease in vigor or extent; become weaker
e.g. While his interest in these sports began to wane, a passion for rugby developed

(of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size