Vocab 4

Question 1

autonomy

Answer 1

being self-governing; independence

Quebec’s separatist movement seeks autonomy for the province.

Question 2

circumspect

Answer 2

cautious and prudent; heedful of consequences

A circumspect investor researches carefully before buying shares of stock.

Question 3

composure

Answer 3

calmness of mind or bearing; self-control

The defendant maintained her composure, despite the prosecutor’s repeated verbal attacks.

Question 4

edifice

Answer 4

a large, imposing structure or building

The edifice with the grand staircase is the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

a complex structure or system built up over time, as if it were a real building

Successive generations of scholars have added to the edifice of science.

Question 5

ensconce

Answer 5

to settle or place securely or snugly

Grandpa ensconced himself in the armchair and fell asleep.

Question 6

environs

Answer 6

the area adjoining or surrounding a place

The population of San Diego and its environs exceeds 6 million.

Question 7

hapless

Answer 7

marked by the absence of good luck; unfortunate

Nolan’s leg injury was merely the latest of his hapless adventures.

Question 8

heinous

Answer 8

shockingly evil or wicked

The execution of innocent civilians is a heinous act, even in times of war.

Question 9

incognito

Answer 9

with one’s identity concealed; unrecognized

The princess traveled incognito so she could travel in peace.

Question 10

indoctrinate

Answer 10

to teach or train in fundamentals

The Americorps volunteers were indoctrinated for several weeks before receiving an assignment.

to instill or teach from a partisan point of view

Sergeant Senoff indoctrinated new recruits into the army’s way of doing things.

Question 11

interim

Answer 11

an interval of time between events

(adj.) taking place between events; temporary

The interim peace treaty will be in force until a final agreement is negotiated.

Question 12

mausoleum

Answer 12

a large and impressive tomb

The marble mausoleum holds the remains of Ulysses S. Grant.

Question 13

pillage

Answer 13

to rob and plunder

After the army retreated, enemy troops pillaged the town, looting house after house.

Question 14

reverie

Answer 14

the condition of being lost in thought

A knock at the door broke her reverie.

A daydream

My reveries took me back to my mother’s kitchen and the tantalizing smell of her turkey soup.

Question 15

thrall

Answer 15

a loss of one’s ability to act freely; a state over which one seems to have no control

Persons in thrall to tobacco find it difficult to break the addiction.

thralldom (n.) slavery or bondage

The thralldom of Russian serfs kept them bound in service to the great landowners.