Set 2

Question 1

Pretentious

Answer 1

adjective

attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.

Question 2

Diction

Answer 2

the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

Question 3

Sordid

Answer 3

adjective
1.
involving immoral or dishonourable actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt.
“the story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams”
2.
dirty or squalid.
“the overcrowded housing conditions were sordid and degrading”

Question 4

Aped

Answer 4

verb
past tense: aped; past participle: aped
imitate (someone or something), especially in an absurd or unthinking way.
“new architecture can respect the old without aping its style”

Question 5

Exuberance

Answer 5

noun
the quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness; ebullience.
“a sense of youthful exuberance”
The quality of growing profusely; luxuriance.
“plants growing with wild exuberance”

Question 6

Discerning

Answer 6

adjective
having or showing good judgement.
“the brasserie attracts discerning customers”

Question 7

Insouciant

Answer 7

adjective
showing a casual lack of concern.
“an insouciant shrug”

Question 8

Ruinous

Answer 8

adjective
1.
disastrous or destructive.
"a ruinous effect on the environment"
2.
in ruins; dilapidated.
"the castle is ruinous"

Question 9

Persecution

Answer 9

noun
hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs; oppression.
“her family fled religious persecution”

Question 10

Archaic

Answer 10

adjective
very old or old-fashioned.
“prisons are run on archaic methods”

Question 11

Swindles

Answer 11

Noun
A fraudulent scheme or action.
He is mixed up in a £10 million insurance swindle”

Question 12

Tabulate

Answer 12

verb
arrange (data) in tabular form.

Question 13

Euphonious

Answer 13

adjective

(of sound, especially speech) pleasing to the ear.

Question 14

Akin

Answer 14

Adjective
of similar character.
“something akin to gratitude overwhelmed her”

Question 15

Scrupulous

Answer 15

adjective

(of a person or process) careful, thorough, and extremely attentive to details.

Question 16

Fanciful

Answer 16

adjective
1.
over-imaginative and unrealistic.
“ever more fanciful proposals were raised”
2.
highly ornamental or imaginative in design.
“a fanciful Art Nouveau bar”

Question 17

Deplore

Answer 17

verb

feel or express strong disapproval of (something).

Question 18

Curtailment

Answer 18

noun
the action or fact of reducing or restricting something.
“the curtailment of human rights”

Question 19

Idioms

Answer 19

a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g. over the moon, see the light ).

Question 20

Ubiquity

Answer 20

noun
the fact of appearing everywhere or of being very common.
“the ubiquity of mobile phones means you don’t really need a watch”

Question 21

Harangued

Answer 21

Verb
lecture (someone) at length in an aggressive and critical manner.
“he harangued the public on their ignorance”

Question 22

Inept

Answer 22

adjective
having or showing no skill; clumsy.
“the referee’s inept handling of the match”

Question 23

Irrepressible

Answer 23

adjective
not able to be controlled or restrained.
“an irrepressible rogue”

Question 24

Laudable

Answer 24

adjective
(of an action, idea, or aim) deserving praise and commendation.
“laudable though the aim might be, the results have been criticized”

Question 25

Eclectic

Answer 25

adjective
1.
deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
“universities offering an eclectic mix of courses”