The Hindu 06/03/2019

Question 1

parleys

Answer 1

hold a conference with the opposing side to discuss terms

synonyms: discuss terms, talk, hold talks,
eg. – they disagreed over whether to parley with the enemy

Question 2

behest

Answer 2

a person’s orders or command.

synonyms: instruction, bidding, request,
eg. – they had assembled at his behest

Question 3

perverse

Answer 3

contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice.

synonyms: illogical, irrational, unreasonable, contradictory
eg. – “in two general elections the outcome was quite perverse

Question 4

immaterial

Answer 4

unimportant under the circumstances; irrelevant.

synonyms: irrelevant, unimportant, inconsequential,

eg, – the difference in our ages is immaterial.

Question 5

adjudication

Answer 5

a formal judgement on a disputed matter.

eg. – the matter may have to go to court for adjudication.

Question 6

entrusted

Answer 6

put (something) into someone’s care or protection.

synonyms: hand over, give custody of, make over
eg. – you persuade people to entrust their savings to you.

Question 7

contravention

Answer 7

an action which offends against a law, treaty, or other ruling.

synonyms: breach, violation, infringement
eg. – the publishing of misleading advertisements was a contravention of the Act

Question 8

salutary

Answer 8

(especially with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial.

synonyms: beneficial, good, good for one
eg. = it failed to draw salutary lessons from Britain’s loss of its colonies

Question 9

acquiescent

Answer 9

ready to accept something without protest, or to do what someone else wants.

Question 10

squandered

Answer 10

waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner.

synonyms: waste, misspend, misuse, throw away
eg. = £100m of taxpayers’ money has been squandered on administering the tax

Question 11

rein in

Answer 11

to limit or control (someone or something)

eg. 1) Congress must rein in spending.
2) You had better rein that kid in before she gets hurt.

Question 12

incongruous

Answer 12

not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something.

synonyms: out of place, out of keeping, inappropriate
eg. = “the women looked incongruous in their smart hats and fur coats

Question 13

embroiled

Answer 13

involve (someone) deeply in an argument, conflict, or difficult situation

synonyms: involve, entangle, ensnare
eg. = the organization is currently embroiled in running battles with pressure groups

Question 14

aggrieved

Answer 14

feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated

synonyms: resentful, affronted, indignant, disgruntled
eg. = they were aggrieved at the outcome

Question 15

intractable

Answer 15

hard to control or deal with

synonyms: unmanageable, uncontrollable, ungovernable,
eg. = intractable economic problems

Question 16

vitiated

Answer 16

spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of.

eg. = development programmes have been vitiated by the rise in population

Question 17

inception

Answer 17

the establishment or starting point of an institution or activity

synonyms: establishment, institution, foundation,
eg. = she has been on the board since its inception two years ago

Question 18

envisaged

Answer 18

contemplate or conceive of as a possibility or a desirable future event.

synonyms: foresee, predict, forecast
eg. = it was envisaged that such hospitals would be opened in all the principal towns

Question 19

lure

Answer 19

tempt (a person or animal) to do something or to go somewhere, especially by offering some form of reward.

synonyms: tempt, entice, attract, induce
eg. = the child was lured into a car but managed to escape

Question 20

eschew

Answer 20

deliberately avoid using; abstain from

synonyms: abstain from, refrain from, give up
eg. = he appealed to the crowd to eschew violence

Question 21

parochialism

Answer 21

a limited or narrow outlook, especially focused on a local area; narrow-mindedness

synonyms: narrow-mindedness, localism
eg. = accusations of parochialism

Question 22

machismo

Answer 22

strong or aggressive masculine pride.

synonyms: (aggressive) masculinity, macho, toughness
eg. = the exaggerated machismo displayed in the tango

Question 23

vigour

Answer 23

physical strength and good health

synonyms: robustness, healthiness, good health
eg. = “I was 79, but still full of vigour and vitality

Question 24

craves

Answer 24

feel a powerful desire for (something).

synonyms: long for, yearn for, hunger for, thirst for,
eg. = if only she had shown her daughter the love she craved

Question 25

anecdotes,

Answer 25

a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

synonyms: story, tale, narrative
eg. = “he told anecdotes about his job

Question 26

paradigms

Answer 26

a typical example or pattern of something; a pattern or model.

synonyms: model, pattern, example, standard,
eg. = society’s paradigm of the ‘ideal woman