unit 2

Question 1

ameliorate

Answer 1

to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

Question 2

aplomb

Answer 2

poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity

Question 3

bombastic

Answer 3

pompous, over overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

Question 4

callow

Answer 4

without experience; immature; not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers

Question 5

drivel

Answer 5

saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense; to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly

Question 6

epitome

Answer 6

a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality

Question 7

exhort

Answer 7

to urge strongly, advise earnestly

Question 8

ex officio

Answer 8

by virtue or holding a certain office

Question 9

infringe

Answer 9

to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

Question 10

ingratiate

Answer 10

to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)

Question 11

interloper

Answer 11

one who moves where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be; an intruder

Question 12

intrinsic

Answer 12

belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part

Question 13

inveigh

Answer 13

to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

Question 14

lassitude

Answer 14

weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

Question 15

millennium

Answer 15

a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

Question 16

occult

Answer 16

secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; mysterious, magical, uncanny; to hide, cover up; eclipse; matters involving the supernatural

Question 17

permeate

Answer 17

to spread through, penetrate, soak through

Question 18

precipitate

Answer 18

to fall as moisture; to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to; characterized by excessive haste; moisture; the product of an action or events

Question 19

stringent

Answer 19

strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste

Question 20

surmise

Answer 20

to think or believe without certain support evidence; to conjecture or guess; likely idea that lacks definite proof