Unit 2

Question 1

ameliorate

Answer 1

(v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

A hot meal can \_\_\_ the discomforts of even the coldest day.

Synonyms: amend, better
Antonyms: worsen, aggravate, exacerbate

Question 2

aplomb

Answer 2

(n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity

Considering the family’s tense mood, you handled the situation with ___.

Synonyms: composure, self-possession, levelheadedness
Antonyms: confusion, embarrassment, abashment

Question 3

bombastic

Answer 3

(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full or high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

He delivered a ___ speech that did not even address our problems.

Synonyms: inflated, highfalutin, pretentious
Antonyms: unadorned, simple, plain, austere

Question 4

callow

Answer 4

(adj.) without experienced; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers

They entered the army as ___ recruits and left as seasoned veterans.

Synonyms: green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced
Antonyms: mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated

Question 5

drivel

Answer 5

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

To me, my dream made perfect sense, but when I told it to my friend, it sounded like ___.

Knowing that his time was nearly up, we kept silent and let him ___ on.

Synonyms: (n.) balderdash, tommyrot; (v.) slaver

Question 6

epitome

Answer 6

(n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality

Admitting when you have been fairly defeated is the ___ of sportsmanship.

Synonyms: abstract, digest, archetype

Question 7

exhort

Answer 7

(v.) to urge strongly, advise, earnestly

With dramatic gestures, our fans vigorously ___ the team to play harder.

Synonyms: entreat, implore, adjure
Antonyms: discourage, advise against, deprecate

Question 8

ex officio

Answer 8

(adj. adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office

The President is the ___ commander-in-chief of the armed forces in time of war.

Question 9

infringe

Answer 9

(v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

If you continue to ___ on my responsibilities, will you also take the blame for any mistakes?

Synonyms: encroach, impinge, intrude
Antonyms: stay in bounds, comply

Question 10

ingratiate

Answer 10

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

It is not a good idea to ___ oneself by paying cloying compliments.

Synonyms: cozy up to, curry favor with
Antonyms: humiliate oneself

Question 11

interloper

Answer 11

(n.) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder

The crowd was so eager to see the band perform that they resented the opening singer as an ___.

Synonyms: trespasser, meddler, buttinsky

Question 12

intrinsic

Answer 12

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

It had been my father’s favorite book when he was my age, but for me it held little ___ interest.

Synonyms: immanent, organic
Antonyms: extrinsic, external, outward

Question 13

inveigh

Answer 13

(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

You should not ___ against the plan with quite so much vigor until you have read it.

Synonyms: harangue, remonstrate
Antonyms: acclaim, glorify, extol

Question 14

lassitude

Answer 14

(n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

On some days I am overcome by ___ at the thought of so many more years of schooling.

Synonyms: fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor
Antonyms: energy, vitality, animation, liveliness

Question 15

millennium

Answer 15

(n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

In 1999 an argument raged over whether 2000 or 2001 would mark the beginning of the new ___.

Synonyms: chiliad, golden age
Antonyms: doomsday

Question 16

occult

Answer 16

(adj.) secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; mysterious, magical, uncanny; (v.) to hide, cover up; eclipse; (n.) matters involving the supernatural

Astronomers did not notice the small moon, which was often \_\_\_ by the planet around which it orbited.

Much of his talk about the ___ seems grounded in nothing but trick photography and folklore.

Synonyms: (adj.) esoteric, abstruse, arcane
Antonyms: (adj.) mundane, common, public, exoteric

Question 17

permeate

Answer 17

(v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through

The rain ___ all of my clothing and reduced the map in my pocket to a pulpy mass.

Question 18

precipitate

Answer 18

(v.) to fall as moisture; to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to; (adj.) characterized by excessive haste; (n.) moisture; the product of an action or process

Scholars often disagree over which event or events ___ an historic moment.

I admit that my outburst was ___.

Too many eggs in this particular pudding will leave a messy ___ in the baking pan.

Synonyms: (v.) provoke, produce; (adj.) reckless, impetuous
Antonym: (adj.) wary. circumspect

Question 19

stringent

Answer 19

(adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste

Some argue that more ___ laws against speeding will make our streets safer.

Synonyms: stern, rigorous, tough, urgent
Antonyms: lenient, mild, lax, permissive

Question 20

surmise

Answer 20

(v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof

I cannot be sure, but I ___ that she would not accept my apology even if I made it on my knees.

The police had no proof, nothing to go on but a suspicion, a mere ___.

Synonyms: (v.) infer, gather; (n.) inference, presumption